NEC said that demo system uses 5G technology as well as MEC
Japanese firm NEC Corporation announced the provision of a facial recognition demo system utilizing multi-access edge computing to compatriot carrier NTT DoCoMo’s 5G Open Lab Okinawa, a 5G technology verification center established in Okinawa prefecture earlier this month.
The lab provides technical verification environments, including 5G base stations, for companies and groups participating in the DoCoMo 5G open partner program. The main aim of the facility is to create new use cases for 5G, promotion of local industries and resolution of social issues in Okinawa. NEC has provided 5G base stations utilizing 4.5 GHz frequency band to this lab.
NEC said that the demo system utilizing 5G and MEC enables instantaneous face recognition under mobile networks. This makes it easier to introduce a temporary face recognition system at an event venue without the need for new cable installation.
NEC highlighted that the system also optimizes the allocation of band frequencies according to need. When a monitoring camera detects the behavior of a person, the demo system expands network bandwidth and the images used for face recognition are changed to high-definition images. The system sends low-definition images from monitoring cameras in order to reduce the consumption of network bandwidth when persons are not detected, the Japanese company said.
The demo system consists of NEC’s face recognition AI engine NeoFace, a context-aware service controller which optimizes the allocation of network resources, as well as NEC’s Image Analysis and Behavior Detection System, which automatically detects behavior in real time, such as intrusions and object abandonment. They all are installed on MEC servers which are set closer to terminals. In addition, virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) is also used in this demo.
“NEC will continue to develop and offer a variety of solutions as a top vendor of domestic mobile core networks in the 5G era and to contribute to the expansion of the DOCOMO 5G open partner program, while taking advantage of our experience and knowhow,” said Kazuhiro Tagawa, GM for the Network Solutions Division at NEC.
NTT DoCoMo previously announced plans to launch pre-commercial 5G services in September 2019. The Japanese carrier aims to launch commercial 5G services across Japan by mid-2020. The company also highlighted that customers will be able to experience 5G services during the Rugby World Cup next year.
NTT DoComo has been adding partners to its 5G open partner program, through which it aims to create 5G-based solutions. The program currently has over 1,800 partners and expects to end 2021 with 5,000 partners.
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