Future Is Now: 5G-A Pioneers a New Era for Smart Parks

In Shanghai, a fast-growing and modern city, the combination of nature and technology delivers an aesthetically appealing vision of a futuristic metropolis. Century Park, located in the Pudong New Area and known as the city's "green lung," has seamlessly merged with neighboring communities after the removal of walls and landscape upgrades. Residents and visitors now have easy access to the park for relaxation and travel, benefiting from a variety of available services. The park's 24-hour accessibility fosters a deeper connection to nature, while requiring enhanced safety management and smart technological innovations. In an innovative execution of the "Citizen's City" concept, China Telecom Shanghai Branch and ZTE have partnered to integrate 5G-Advanced (5G-A) technology within the smart park, enhancing the visitor experience and upgrading park management to promote a harmonious integration of civilization and the environment .

Elevating Park Experiences with Ultra-High Capacity and Ultra-Low Latency Technologies

Millimeter wave technology, characterized by its large bandwidth, significantly larger frequency resources, and unique transmission behaviors, enables rapid data transfer, low latency, and highly-reliable communication—key to achieving the goals of 5G-A. With the implementation of millimeter wave technology, Century Park now offers optimized internet connectivity to residents. Visitors benefit from the ultra-high-speed internet connections to explore innovative entertainment options within the park, enhancing their overall experience.

Whether it's the beauty of the cherry blossom festival, the tranquility of summer night camping, or the bustling energy of weekend markets, every moment in the park is worth sharing. However, the rapid sharing of these experiences was often delayed due to network congestion caused by large crowds. With network speeds exceeding 25 Gbps, 5G-A base stations enable instantaneous sharing of photographs or videos of blossoming cherry blossoms and live streaming under the starry sky, allowing users to seamlessly capture and share moments of joy.

As people seek better enjoyment of life, parks have evolved from basic walking areas into desirable destinations for exploration and entertainment during holidays. Augmented reality (AR) park tours, powered by 5G-A, have transformed traditional walking experiences. Mobile devices can achieve downlink rates exceeding 6 Gbps, enabling instant access to vivid photos, videos, and 3D models. Imagine entering Century Park on a sunny day, using your phone or AR glasses to see virtual animal sprites jumping between branches or playing among the flowers. Guided by an AR tour, you can learn about various plants while searching for hidden digital treasures in every corner. These interactive experiences not only elevate the joy of park visits but also redefine family outings.

The Shanghai Nightlife Festival, themed “Tonight is the Night,”  showcases various citywide nightlife settings, including parks, rooftops, and waterfronts. 5G-A technology, with its ultra-low latency and great performance, enables live broadcasting without the limitations of cables, allowing photographers to move freely through crowds and capture every exciting moment. Real-time transmission of ultra-high-definition, lightly compressed video, powered by 5G-A, integrates seamlessly with video from wired cameras, allowing synchronized horizontal and vertical screen live streaming. Audiences at home can experience the vibrancy and romance of the scene as if they were right under the sparkling lights, immersing themselves in the charm of the city.

Enhancing Park Management with Cluster DRS+ and Integrated Sensing Technology

Century Park’s 24/7 operation has increased the demand on its security and emergency response systems. In collaboration with China Telecom Shanghai Branch, the park has introduced drone security patrols that complement the smart surveillance system, establishing a comprehensive security mechanism for all weather conditions. However, real-time transfer of high-definition inspection video from drones to the ground control center faces challenges due to low-altitude connectivity. The Cluster DRS+ solution effectively extends the ground 5G network coverage to 300 meters above ground level, enabling stable video feedback at 50 Mbps for drone patrols. This configuration guarantees excellent performance for drone operations through shared network resources via a virtual private network. A single 5G network, via adaptable resource allocation and synchronization, supports both ground-based users and low-altitude drones, delivering high-definition video experiences, lag-free gaming, and real-time high-definition video feedback to improve park inspection efficiency.

Beyond drone patrols, 5G-A integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) base stations have been deployed in Century Park to serve as "Air Navigation Towers" for drone operations. With their high-precision sensing capabilities and integrated computing power, these stations enable route planning for drone inspections and deliveries and offer continuous trajectory tracking and navigation assistance. At the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2024, ZTE and China Telecom Shanghai Branch, in partnership with Antwork Technology, presented innovative services including on-demand drone delivery, meter-level positioning, and precise drop-offs inside the park, highlighting significant potential for various smart park services.

Furthermore, the increasing use of personal drones for flight testing and aerial photographs in Century Park presents new challenges for low-altitude management. Bird Island, the bird reserve in the park, often faces disturbances from drones. Low-altitude aerial photography during major events also requires strict control, with electronic no-fly zones established as needed. The implementation of 5G-A integrated sensing technology for real-time tracking of such areas significantly enhances park management. Unauthorized drone entry into no-fly zones triggers real-time alarms, with "radar-vision filming" providing video recognition and target locking within three seconds, providing adaptable and precise low-altitude security control for the park.

In the future, smart parks will integrate the natural world with human creativity, creating a harmonious environment that merges aesthetics with advanced technology for an accessible and inspiring experience. Century Park’s implementation of 5G-A technology sets a benchmark for the parks of tomorrow.