Engineers tips a rise in massive machine- type communications, or “fully automatic data generation, exchange, processing and actuation among intelligent machines”. Luggage, in particular, may become smarter, according to Michael Bayle, Amadeus’s global head of mobile. “We’re excited about 5G. In the ecosystem we manage, there will be more tracking.” He gives the example of ‘smart luggage’, which can call you a Uber cab when on the carousel. “5G can support that handsomely,” he says. Bayle also believes the Pokemon
operators and manufacturers, and large-scale trials are a way off. They will also first focus on mega-events to test speeds in high density areas. Operator Megafon will trial 5G during the Fifa World Cup in 2018 in Russia, while operator NTT Docomo plans to launch a 5G mobile communications system by 2020 – in time for the summer Olympics in Tokyo. Aurelie Krau, an associate at consultancy
Festive Road, adds: “The business travel industry has not really started to anticipate 5G... and it will depend on the quality of each market’s networks and on investments.”
“We’re working for the connected traveller, and 5G helps to facilitate that process”
Go phenomenon hinted at what’s to come. “There’ll be more gameplay. There was a microculture of knowledge sharing. It can be fun, social, and helps people find new places. 5G and virtual reality will really test what we’ve seen through movies. It will become true, because of 5G.” However, while on the horizon, he
admits “there’s debate as to when it will be commercialised”. “For the future, we have a wonderful wishlist. But we’re also looking at the opposite. What can we move offline? There are still a lot of places offering wifi, and mobile isn’t a consumption device; you compose content.” Also the word “trials” in the chancellor’s statement should be noted. Spectrums and standards have yet to be defined among
However, she does say it will eventually lead to “new opportunities” all along the traveller journey, with devices increasingly demanding in terms of data consumption. “This links directly to a richer retailing experience with video for all at the point-of- sales, augmented reality, live and constantly updated information, such as flight status or disruptions, and personalised on-the-go services, using geolocation.” Exactly when, and where, the fifth
generation of mobile networks arrives may still be up for debate, but when it does, its impact will be far-reaching. Travel companies making plans today may well gain the edge tomorrow. As MTT’s Morris says: “5G is for everyone to look at; we’ll look at it even closer.”
IN BRIEF
Air Seoul, the South Korean low-cost carrier, has signed a deal with Sabre Technologies. The agreement will make Air Seoul content available to travel agents via a GDS for the first time.
Trainline, the online rail ticket retailer, has launched business profiles in its app, allowing travellers to separate their business and leisure travel accounts. The company, which earlier this year launched Trainline for Business, said by creating a business profile in the app, travellers can bill trips to a corporate account or company credit card, and send digital receipts direct to a work email.
5G in the UK
KESTER MANN, PRINCIPAL ANALYST AT CCS INSIGHT, says UK network operators are beginning to think seriously about their strategies to launch 5G. In fact, the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre, which opened in 2015, is claimed to be the world’s first centre set up specifically for this type of research. “However, there is, of course, plenty of room left in 4G and it will be some time before 5G handsets become mass market in the UK,” Mann says. “The UK will seek to partner with global infrastructure vendors, operators and regulatory bodies to test different constituent technologies. The first commercial launches are likely in the UK in 2020. “However, it will most likely be a phased deployment, initially only in selected parts of the country, before expanding nationwide over the coming years. The EU has ambitions for trial networks in 2018, commercial services in pilot cities by 2020 and ‘uninterrupted’ coverage in urban areas and transport networks by 2025.” He adds the US, South Korea and Japan are likely to be first to market.
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
Traveldoo, the travel and expense management provider, has launched a hotel booking app. The Expedia-owned company’s app includes hotels sorted by corporate preference, highlighted corporate rates and an approval process. Bookings can be integrated into TMCs’ systems for additional support, such as reporting and duty-of-care.
BBT January/February 2017 33
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