A 5G-powered future of the world’s best airport

To take the world’s best airport to new heights, Singtel has partnered with Changi Airport Group to launch a 5G aviation testbed at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 airside. Co-funded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the two-year testbed will tap Singtel 5G to drive a new frontier of innovative solutions that make airside operations smarter.

What will the 5G-powered airport of the future look like? Here’s a peek.

Picture an airport where self-driving baggage trailers load themselves up with luggage, navigate precisely to the right aircraft stand, and unload their haul – all without a human on the ground.⁴

Baggage handling is a key bottleneck in today’s airports, as labour shortages lead to major delays.⁵ Automated baggage transportation offers a future-ready solution. However, autonomous vehicles (AVs) need high-speed connectivity to manoeuvre safely in real time.

To automate baggage transportation safely and reliably, Changi Airport is tapping the 5G testbed to trial the tele-operations of AVs. Through Singtel 5G’s ultra-high speeds, AVs can transmit massive amounts of sensor data to remote operators as they navigate their surroundings.

When a sensor detects a potential collision and halts, the remote supervisor can take control and drive around the obstacle, ensuring that baggage is delivered without delay.

During peak travel periods, 5G will offer the high bandwidth needed to scale up the tele-operations of AVs. The result? Faster baggage handling, fewer delays for passengers, and more flexibility for future growth.

Data is the lifeblood of modern aviation – today’s aircraft need up-to-date data on weather forecasts and airport conditions before taking flight. Currently, Singapore Airlines (SIA) relies on Gatelink Wi-Fi to transfer flight data to its aircraft.

But this method has limitations: equipping aircraft with Wi-Fi avionics calls for significant lead time and costs. Furthermore, data transfer can only happen when a plane is docked at Changi Airport’s aircraft stands or can connect to the Gatelink Wi-Fi system.

To accelerate data transfer, SIA is leveraging the aviation testbed to trial 5G wireless data transmission. Rather than using hefty amounts of fibre optic cables to connect to Wireless Access Points, aircraft can link to Singtel’s 5G network wirelessly and receive data at high speed. This coverage extends to SIA aircraft at remote stands, freeing data transfer from location constraints.

Faster data transfer drives a swifter response to real-time disruptions like bad weather, enabling SIA to stay ahead of the curve.

Remote inspections are changing the game for aircraft maintenance, and Changi Airport is pushing the boundaries.

Take an aircraft that requires urgent troubleshooting far from its home base, for instance. Rather than scrambling to deploy an aviation inspector on the ground, a remote inspector can collaborate with on-site technicians via live video to verify airworthiness and get the plane back in the air quickly.

Backed by Singtel’s high-speed 5G, inspectors can don smart glasses to examine the aircraft in high-resolution render. 5G’s ultra-low latency will enable inspectors to collaborate with multiple participants lag-free and in real-time.

Even for routine maintenance, going virtual can cut significant time and costs – enabling aviation companies to scale up inspections. This keeps downtime to a minimum and sets the stage for aircraft safety to soar.

Flight delays have become a major headache as airports grapple with the rising number of flights – globally, an average of 30,000 flights are delayed per day.⁶ On-time performance is a fast track to winning passengers’ hearts, and Changi Airport is already exploring cutting-edge solutions with the 5G aviation testbed.

Fuelled by high-speed 5G connectivity, the airport is trialling video analytics and artificial intelligence tools to better predict aircraft turnaround time. With more accurate estimates of turnaround time, airlines can take action in real-time to optimise efficiency and maintain an on-time schedule.

Airlines with a reputation for on-time performance can gain an edge in customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. 

While the 5G aviation testbed is currently based at Changi Airport’s Terminal 3 airside, Singtel has plans to gradually extend its 5G network coverage. By 2025, the 5G standalone network will extend to public areas throughout the airport, including arrival and departure halls, retail shops, and dining outlets.

With 5G at every passenger’s fingertips, the possibilities for a better travel experience are endless. One use case in the works is mobile passenger processing terminals, providing travellers with a more seamless on-boarding and disembarkation experience.

The effortless experience doesn’t end there. As thousands of waiting travellers stream videos or play games on their phones, 5G has the bandwidth to keep internet speeds fast. In shops and restaurants, cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) systems can perform ordering and payment services lag-free.

Already known as a world-class aviation hub, a 5G-powered Changi Airport is on track to take travellers’ comfort to new heights.

As the aviation sector poises for a decade of growth,⁷ 5G can fuel a new era of seamless efficiency for aviation players. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies fuelled by 5G, industry leaders like Changi Airport are well on their way to building the air hub of the future.

Contact us today to find out more about the 5G aviation testbed.