Saudi Arabia’s cross-border futuristic city Neom, located in the northwestern province of Tabuk, has taken a major step in its journey towards tomorrow with its airport operating 5G network technology, the first application regionally, before launching its opening flights on Sunday.
On its official Twitter account, the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said NEOM Bay Airport is the first 5G-supported airport in the region.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), for its part, on June 25 inaugurated NEOM Bay Airport in the northern region of Sharma. GACA said that the airport was licensed and the first phase of development work was completed.
In a statement, the authority said that the airport has been licensed and is ready to receive commercial flights starting next week, after the first phase of development work was completed and was registered by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) earlier with the code “NUM.”
At present, Neom Bay Airport will conduct regular flights to investors and employees of the Neom project.
In October 2017, the $500 billion NEOM project was launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. NEOM is planned to be a business and industrial zone that also links with Jordan and Egypt.
Telecommunications expert Abdulrahman Al-Mazi reaffirmed that having 5G network technologies at the airport will provide unmatched internet speeds, 10 fold of pre-existing speed rates.
The broadband access provider will not only be linked to gates at terminals, direction board signs, on-site self-driving vehicles.
Mazi, in a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, also clarified that airport operating systems will be equipped with Internet of Things (IoT), the extension of Internet connectivity into physical devices and everyday objects, giving it the capabilities of a high-efficiency communication.
5G technology will allow artificial intelligence to guide passengers around, lead functions of robotic cars and facilitate loading cargo, Mazi explained, adding that it also serves long-term strategic goals.
