Tokyo pilots 5G smart poles

Tokyo Metropolitan Government has signed an agreement with Sumitomo Corporation to trial multi-functional 5G ‘smart poles’.

NEC, which is part of the Sumitomo Corporation general trading group, will install two types of smart pole in the Nishi-shinjuku area of Tokyo by the end of June 2020.

This is in line with the Tokyo Data Highway Basic Strategy, which was formulated in August 2019 and prioritises the construction of an ultra-high-speed mobile internet network in Tokyo.

One smart pole model incorporates LED lighting and 5G base stations for multiple telecommunications carriers. The second includes LED lighting and a 5G shared-antenna system for joint use by multiple telco operators, as well as Wi-Fi, digital signage and pedestrian traffic flow analysis cameras.

Tokyo Metropolitan Government will observe how the smart poles perform in both ordinary and emergency circumstances.

5G requires more base stations than 4G and this is challenging for cities like Tokyo which have limited space. Efficient use of telecom infrastructure is key. Based on this trial and others, the goal is to roll out more 5G infrastructure-sharing systems across Tokyo by March 2021

Sumitomo Corporation has also taken part in 5G base station sharing verification projects with Tokyu Corporation, Osaka Metro Co., and Tokyo’s Minato Ward.