Sumitomo Corporation obtains experimental radio station license for 5G to conduct pilot experiments

Sumitomo Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer: Masayuki Hyodo) has obtained an experimental radio station license for the fifth-generation mobile communication system (5G) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), and will carry out Japan’s first indoor/outdoor pilot experiment using local 5G, which will be institutionalized by the end of this year.

As the next-generation communication technology achieving high-speed large-volume communications, 5G is anticipated to be essential, for example, for disseminating the Internet of Things (IoT) and commercializing self-driving and remote medical care service. Local 5G is a 5G-based scheme for building relatively small-scale communication environments in line with individual local and industrial needs, allowing local issues to be addressed in a finely tuned manner. The scheme will be institutionalized by the MIC for the purpose of invigorating local communities.

Eyeing the proliferation of local 5G, Sumitomo Corporation will cooperate with the MIC, cable TV sector, and Sumitomo Corporation Group companies, among others, to conduct a pilot experiment using the high-frequency 28 GHz band (28.2 GHz to 28.3 GHz) slated to be allocated for local 5G.

In the pilot experiment, the changes in communication distance, the presence of buildings and other obstacles, and the impact of changes in the meteorological environment on radio communication will be verified both indoors and outdoors. In addition, in collaboration with other companies including Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd. and EHIME CATV, Inc., Sumitomo Corporation, as a contractor for the MIC, will also perform a radio communication transmission experiment on 4K/8K ultra high definition videos under an environment that integrates existing cable TV infrastructure and a local 5G system, assuming use cases of the system. Furthermore, jointly with Sumitomo Shoji Machinex Co., Ltd. and others, the Company will engage in pilot experiments assuming the use of 5G in the near future, including remote monitoring at plants based on high definition video and virtual reality (VR) conferencing for teleworkers.

Through the pilot experiments, Sumitomo Corporation will accumulate expertise and know-how on local 5G and advance digital transformation (DX) within the Group. Moreover, by leveraging local 5G, the Company will endeavor to generate next-generation businesses where the Group’s signature integrated corporate strength can be fully maximized, and verify the potential of using the 5G foundation to invigorate regional communities and contribute to Society 5.0.

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■Pilot experiment partner entities

Japan Cable and Telecommunications Association, Japan Cable Laboratories, Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Shoji Machinex Co., Ltd., EHIME CATV, Inc., Internet Initiative Japan Inc., AGC Inc., National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Samsung Electronics Japan Co., Ltd., Sangikyo Corporation, Nextgen, Inc., Regional Wireless Japan Ltd., ITOH KOUKI Corporation, telecube, Inc., FUJITSU NETWORK SOLUTIONS LIMITED, Hacosco Inc.

■Sumitomo Corporation’s  Material Issues

Sumitomo Corporation Group positions “Six Material Issues to Achieve Sustainable Growth with Society” as an important factor in developing business strategies and in the decision-making process for individual businesses. Going forward, we will pursue sustainable growth by resolving these issues through our business activities. This Project especially contributes to “Contributing to the Development of Local Communities and Industries” and “Establishing a Foundation for Comfortable and Enriching Lifestyles” and “Providing Diverse “Accessibility”.