5G Intelligent Connectivity

“Intelligent connectivity is enabled through the collaboration of AI, connectivity, including 5G, cloud, edge and IoT,” according to the IHS Markit’s Intelligent Connectivity white paper released at the “OPPO INNO DAY” event in Shenzhen, China.

The white paper points out that all these ever-evolving “AI, 5G” and so on technologies need to work together to create immersive experiences other than creating a number of separate devices for consumers.

OPPO INNO DAY Live. Photo: screenshot

Tom Morrod, Research Executive Director of IHS Markit, said at OPPO INNO DAY that “Intelligent Connectivity” is not about a single product or device, but a very complicated “ecosystem” and many companies involved. Therefore, openness and exchanges across industries are needed.

Tony Chen, the “OPPO Founder and CEO” also expressed similar thoughts in his opening speech in Mandarin: “OPPO is no longer just about smart phones, but will definitely not do whole-scenario businesses. First of all, we do not have the capabilities to do all things. Secondly, we need to do what we ought to do and don’t do what we should not. The link of all things remains technological and physical. Only the integration of all things is the future and the trend. Integration is deeper than link.”

As stated in IHS Markit’s white paper, AI is a pivotal enabler of intelligent connectivity, however currently in its infancy, and human beings are just into the so-called “narrow” or “weak AI” today.

As for whether to deploy AI in the “cloud” or at the “edge”, many real-life applications and use cases opt for a hybrid “cloud-edge” approach.

“Not all the AI needs to be concentrated in the cloud as some of the orders need to be made as quickly as possible. For example, automotive driving needs the AI to be deployed very close to devices, namely cars,” said Morrod.

5G, another enabler of intelligent connectivity, has gone through a rapid growth this year.

“It’s a 5G world, already. The year 2019 has witnessed the first wave of standards-based 5G commercial launches. 5G may be in its infancy, but the development of the 5G device ecosystem has been ramping quickly,” cites the white paper.

According to the Global Mobile Suppliers’ Association, 50 operators had launched 3GPP-compliant 5G commercial services across 27 countries; 328 operators in 109 countries were investing in 5G.

The white paper specially mentioned China’s 5G deployments. China’s three giant mobile operators “China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom” had officially launched “commercial 5G services” ahead of schedule early this November.

IHS Markit expects that by year-end these three Chinese operators will “deploy” some 100,000 5G base stations and 5G is set to be available in 50 cities across China. The figure is expected to rise to one million in 2020.

Last but not least, smart phones play a key role in humans’ “intellectual connectivity” lives. In IHS Markit’s view, the rise of many “digital assistants” such as Amazon Alexa, has not demised smart phones.

The basic functions of “smart phones” are expected to be improved continuously and comprehensively to continue to strengthen its key role in the “5G and the IoT ecosystem.”

Face Scans for Phone Users

China will require phone buyers to provide face scans as of December 1, 2019. Photo: AFP

China will require telecom operators to collect “face scans” when registering phone users at offline outlets starting as of December 1, 2019, according to the country’s information technology authority, as Beijing continues to tighten “cyberspace” controls.

In September, China’s industry and information technology ministry issued a notice on “safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of citizens online,” which laid out rules for enforcing “real-name” registration.

The notice said telecom operators should use “artificial intelligence and other technical means” to verify people’s identities when they take a phone number.

A China Unicom customer service representative said the December 1 “portrait matching” requirement means customers registering for a phone number may have to record themselves turning their head and blinking.

“In the next steps, our ministry will continue to…increase supervision and inspection…and strictly promote the management of real-name registration for phone users,” said the September notice.

Though the Chinese government has pushed for “real-name” registration for phone users since at least 2013 – meaning “ID cards” are linked to phone numbers – the move to leverage AI comes as “facial recognition technology” gains traction across China where the tech is used for everything from supermarket checkouts to surveillance.

Online, Chinese social media users reacted with a mix of support and worry over the “facial verification” notice, with some voicing concerns their biometric data could be “leaked or sold.”

“This is a bit too much,” wrote one user on Twitter-like Weibo, commenting under an article about the new rules. “Control, and then more control,” posted another.

While researchers have warned of the “privacy risks” associated with gathering facial recognition data, consumers have widely embraced the technology, though China saw one of its first “lawsuit on facial recognition” last month.

In early November, a Chinese professor filed a “claim” against a safari park in Hangzhou, eastern Zhejiang province for requiring “face scans” for entry, according to the local court.

In addition to mobile users, Chinese social media site “Weibo” was forced to roll out real-name registration in 2012.

Oversight of social media has ramped up in recent years as part of the Chinese government’s push to “promote the healthy, orderly development of the Internet, protect state security and public interest.”

China Forces Phone Companies to Collect Face Scans of Phone Owners