San Marino 5G leader in Europe: first services launched

Speeding up the implementation of 5G networks and services, and following up on the MoU signed with the Government of the Republic of San Marino last year, TIM launches in San Marino the first applications enabled by the new technology and the first millimetere wave (mmWave) 5G mobile test device in Italy, powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X50 5G modem, and developed by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated,. Starting today, the operational stage of 5G testing kick off with the definition of a plan to upgrade the mobile network in collaboration with Nokia, and the launch of the first next generation services.

This is a crucial step in the process of consolidating the new mobile technology that sees TIM working with INWIT and Olivetti (TIM Group companies), along with international partners including Nokia and QualcommTechnologies Inc., increasingly committed to transforming San Marino into the first 5G country in Europe and one of the first in the world.

The presentation of the new services and the first 5G mobile test, which took place today at the Kursaal conference centre, was attended, amongst others, by TIM San Marino CEO Cesare Pisani, INWIT CEO Giovanni Ferigo, TIM Head of Technology Innovation Enrico Maria Bagnasco and TIM Head of Innovation Attilio Somma, Olivetti Head of IoT Connectivity & Solutions Mario Polosa, Nokia Italia CEO & Nokia VP Mediterranean Area Massimo Mazzocchini and SVP & President Qualcomm Europe Inc. Enrico Salvatori.

Representing San Marino were the Secretary of State for Industry with special responsibility for Telecommunications, Andrea Zafferani and the Secretary of State for Culture and Innovation, Marco Podeschi.

Live demos of the first 5G services, that will soon be available in the territory of San Marino, were shown:

• Smart City services, with Smart Parking and Gas & Water Metering applications, built by Olivetti, to bring economic advantages and facilities to the people of San Marino and local companies, as well as solutions to monitor air quality, using IoT sensors placed on urban buses, or Smart Agriculture systems based on the principles of the sharing economy;
• Public Security services which, thanks to a system of cameras constantly connected to police stations, will guarantee video surveillance during public events;
• Services for Industry 4.0 to provide local industry with integrated system of production and logistics which makes the most of the processing capacity made available by the cloud, with obvious economic and time savings;
• digital tourism services which, using Virtual Reality solutions, allow to explore remotely local sites of artistic and cultural interest, providing an immersive experience.

Furthermore, as a complete first for the Italian peninsula, attendees could test the 5G mobile test device, powered by the Snapdragon X50 5G modem, provided by Qualcomm Technologies Inc., that is expected to be commercially available on the market in 2019. A new record for TIM, achieved in cooperation with Nokia and Qualcomm Technologies, which has made it possible to preview the potential of the 5G network at the European level, using the 3.5 GHz and 26 GHz frequencies.

'By the end of the summer - said Cesare Pisani, TIM San Marino CEO - the first mobile sites will be adapted to the new 5G radio interface, coinciding with the progressive introduction of small cells, small and low power antennas which, connected by fibre optic cable and located in various areas of the country, will provide performance levels unattainable with current technologies, and with minimum environmental impact'.

'Today we have reached a new important milestone,' commented Stefano Siragusa,TIM Chief Wholesales, Infrastructures, Network and Systems Officer, 'which confirms TIM's ability to be a leader in innovation processes in the sector, a role we also play at global level, contributing to establishing the 5G standard. By enabling new generation services in San Marino, we are looking forward to the future, paying particular attention to the development of innovative services related to public safety, transport, tourism and Industry 4.0 which enable the Smart City model'.

The gradual adaptation of the 5G network will enable the creation of an ecosystem of local partners, including government bodies of the Republic of San Marino, the University and Research Centres, the Social Security Organisation, the National Tourism Office, Service and Production Companies, the Police Force, with whom TIM will test innovative 5G services for Smart Cities, Public Safety, the Environment, Healthcare, Tourism, Culture, Transport and Media.

'The new applications developed thanks to 5G - pointed out Andrea Zafferani, Secretary of State for Industry with special responsibility for Telecommunications - will bring economic and social benefits to the whole community of San Marino and will put the Republic of San Marino in a unique position among European States in terms of both technological innovation and the efficiency and quality of services offered to tourists and citizens'.

'Thanks to 5G - declared Marco Podeschi, Secretary of State for Culture and Innovation - the Republic of San Marino will become a state-of-the-art tourist centre: with the new networks and services using Virtual Reality, our country will in fact become a pole of attraction for digital tourism as well, allowing a growing number of people to appreciate its architectural and cultural beauties, exploring them in an immersive mode, even remotely'.

San Marino, 23 May 2018