M1 also launched 5G-powered maritime surveillance for onboard security as part of its SMARTsecure solution offerings
Singapore operator M1 Limited (M1) said it has partnered with Fullerton Health, a healthcare platform in Asia, to introduce 5G-enabled telemedicine services for the maritime sector.
In a release, the Asian operator said this move is part of its broader plans to provide ubiquitous 5G Standalone (SA) offshore coverage for the Southern Coast of Singapore, part of continued progress on the Maritime 5G testbed efforts, announced last August.
M1’s 5G SA-powered solution-in-a-box suite includes features that the company calls M1 SMARTsafe, M1 SMARTsecure, M1 SMARTasset and M1 SMARTops.
Under SMARTsafe, Fullerton and M1 will provide 5G-powered telemedicine services to seafarers working onboard vessels out in the sea. This includes live teleconsultations with shore-based healthcare professionals and 5G-enabled drones to deliver medicine to ship crews from the shore. The telemedicine service will be officially launched in July 2023 and made available for all seafarers or employees from shipping companies in Singapore, M1 said.
Additionally, M1 launched 5G-powered maritime surveillance for onboard security as part of its SMARTsecure solution offerings. With 5G connectivity offshore, vessels out at sea will now be able to set up real-time video surveillance systems and receive seamless footage as they would have on land.
The carrier’s M1 SMARTasset uses autonomous robotics for inspection of critical assets, while the M1 SMARTops is a workforce productivity solution with 5G-powered tools, such as smart glasses to help businesses enhance productivity and efficiency
“This launch is a testament to our promise to deliver readily available innovative 5G solutions that can be adopted and rolled out easily by businesses to improve business efficiency,” said Manjot Singh Mann, CEO at M1.
“The partnership with M1 greatly improves the usability and accessibility of Fullerton Health’s services. We want to harness the 5G network to provide virtual healthcare solutions, including telehealth and remote patient monitoring and care team collaboration as the health and safety of port workers and sailors are critical to global trade and supply chains, and we are grateful to be able to contribute toward this,” said Ho Kuen Loon, CEO at Fullerton Health.
In August 2022, M1 had announced a multi-year project that aims to provide ubiquitous 5G Standalone (SA) offshore coverage for the southern coast of Singapore, including the surrounding waters of the southern islands.
The telco noted that extending 5G offshore coverage enhances connectivity in the maritime ecosystem and enables new 5G use cases and applications.
M1 also said that the project is also funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA).
Under the terms of the project, M1 will provide a 5G Standalone network to trial, develop and deploy new maritime 5G use cases under the IMDA Innovation and Ecosystem Testbed Program and the MPA Innovation Lab.
