Chinese information and communication technology (ICT) giant Huawei, data-only network operator Rain and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have partnered to launch South Africa’s first fifth-generation (5G) laboratory to enable students to learn from and experiment with the 5G applications that will drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

The 5G Innovation Lab, located at the Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, in Johannesburg, offers a live 5G environment supported by Huawei’s end-to-end 5G solutions connected to Rain’s 5G network.

The lab, which is supported by a 5G base station installed by Rain, will initially showcase two 5G applications, namely smart/safe campus and virtual reality (VR) remote education.

Among other 5G applications, the lab will investigate live, VR elearning broadcasts of lectures and classes, as well as feature a hub relaying feeds from cross-campus safety and security camera networks.

“The purpose of this exciting partnership is to give students early access to 5G technology. This will allow them to experiment and interact with the 5G platforms that will enable the 4IR,” says Huawei Southern Africa Region VP Yang Chen.

The partnership between industry and academia is expected to be a launchpad for the incubation of innovative applications and business models and build knowledge of the revolutionary technology’s applications for the local market to unleash the full potential of 5G for South Africa and the rest of Africa.

With most applications expected to run in a 5G network environment during the 4IR era, the lab aims to start driving innovations to promote social progress for South Africa.

The lab will showcase the tangible impacts of 5G on multiple fronts, he continues.

“I believe this lab is going to give birth to enormous, new and customised ICT applications and services responding directly to local needs.

With easy access to cutting-edge technologies and innovation, we will now be able to fully unlock creativity, turning ideas into reality and reality into commercial success.”

The facility will give students an opportunity to innovate solutions for local problems, adds Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Dr Blade Nzimande.

“We are very encouraged by the efforts of Huawei, Rain and Wits to establish academic research and development capabilities; this is very important as we move into the digital economy.

We are working with the pioneers in digital innovation to train a generation of smart, savvy scholars who will transform the world, using the latest technology available to effect beneficial change in our world. We are not reimagining the future, we are creating a better future for all today,” continues Wits vice-chancellor and principal Professor Adam Habib.

Rain believes that young innovators will use the 5G innovation lab to push the boundaries for the next technological leaps.

5G provides digital cellular networks featuring faster upload and download speeds with numerous applications in the Internet of Things, enterprise networking and critical communications.