Verizon provided results from the first cohort of developers involved in the 5G Development Hub, a non-profit business incubator in Montreal where the carrier is partnering with Centech and Bell Canada. Seven startup and “scaleup” companies participated in developing applications involving mixed reality, robot control, asset tracking and more.
The incubator was launched last May. The first cohort worked alongside experts to create 5G use cases and to incorporate 5G and multi-access edge (MEC) computing into their projects.
“Verizon has a vested interest in the 5G future, and we see an extraordinary opportunity to encourage entrepreneurs to leverage the advanced capabilities that 5G offers,” Jeff Frantz, Verizon’s Executive Director of Ecosystem Development, said in a press release. “These programs enable startups to test, explore and create the products and ecosystems of tomorrow.”
The seven participating companies are Kognitiv Spark, I-50, Haply Robotics, SmartCone, Edgecom Energy, FuseForward and Paytec.
Their projects:
- Kognitiv Spark 5G Application: Enhances overall performance of the RemoteSpark mixed reality platform, using the speed and throughput 5G can offer to achieve higher resolution video calls and near-real-time transfer of digital assets.
- I-5O 5G Application: Continuously generates actionable insights on production operations and detects process deviations in near real-time. Uses 5G to expand where cameras can be used.
- Haply Robotics 5G Application: Leverages the low latency that 5G provides and the adaptability of MEC to enable near real-time control of robots with haptic feedback.
- SmartCone 5G Application: Moves processing and sensor fusion capabilities from the SmartCone device to MEC. Leveraging 5G and MEC enables greater communication and information sharing between devices.
- Edgecom Energy 5G Application: The lower latency of 5G makes it possible to monitor energy use and control connected devices in near real-time to enable integration with the grid for greater resiliency, demand response and frequency regulation.
- FuseForward 5G Application: Expands smart campus analytical capabilities by integrating sensors in areas without a wired connection. It also enables layering in live video analytics streamed across 5G and processed using MEC.
- Peytec 5G Application: Virtualizes the master scheduling nodes using low latency 5G and MEC to reduce hardware costs for asset tracking, while also simplifying deployment and maintenance.
Verizon also is helping young companies develop 5G in the United States. Last January, the carrier launched a 5G Innovation Hub at Arizona State University’s Learning Futures Collaboratory, Studios and Emporium.
