By Andreas
Neocleous, CEO Cyta
Cyta has paved the way to a new exciting era, introducing the first 5G network in Cyprus which lays the foundations
for the development of a new digital ecosystem that will support the
development and launch of innovative products and services. By
allowing new and existing technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT),
big data, autonomous vehicles, smart cities and augmented & virtual reality
to reach new levels of potential, 5G has the ability to significantly boost the
economy, directly increasing productivity and revenue for businesses, as well
as create tremendous
opportunity in emerging markets. The possibilities are infinite.
Starting
with the promising shipping industry, 5G is expected to facilitate real-time
data exchange between ships as well as between shore and sea. The entire logistics
chain, including the monitoring of cargo, could benefit from more seamless
operations. This
will improve the efficiency of ports, reduce the travel-time of ships and their
environmental footprint and contribute to enhancing the safety of staff and
passengers.
In the critical health sector, improved
care at a lower cost is the catalyst for the industry development. The low
latency of 5G, which allows the transmission of big data in real time, will
become a game changer for the immediate future. For example, increasing the speed of
emergency response, both through connected ambulances and through the use of wearable devices in vulnerable groups, will
significantly reduce patients' hospital stays and consequently the operating
costs of medical care. At the
same time, the foundations are being laid for remote operations such as robotic
surgery.
5G lays the groundwork for the casual use
of virtual (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications, a fact that is
expected to bring significant improvements in the tourism industry, which
contributes more than 20% of our country’s GDP. For example, it will facilitate the use
of augmented reality (AR / VR) applications in museums and archaeological
sites, significantly upgrading the experience and level of services offered,
enabling virtual reconstruction of historic sites, as well as automatic
translation of guided tours. Hotels could significantly enhance their connectivity services for the leisure of
their guests, adopt “smart room” applications with greater energy efficiency and
even use face identification apps for fully automated check-in and check-out
procedures.
In a time of uncertainty and economic depression, 5G could become the cornerstone of both
domestic and global economic recovery. Its
state-of-the-art infrastructure, combined with its high standard of living,
brings our country to the forefront, as a favourable investment destination,
capable of attracting productive business proposals and talent.
For Cyprus, the challenge is obvious. It
concerns the speed with which we will proceed to make the necessary changes
that will integrate new technologies into our daily business. The future never
waits, it is already here.
