February 25, 2022
National Institute of Polar Research, Research Organization of Information and Systems
NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation

First demonstration of private 5G at Syowa Station in Antarctica
The National Institute of Polar Research (Director: Takuji Nakamura, NIPR) and NEC Networks &System Integration Corporation (Head Office: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, President: Yushi Ushijima, TSE:
1973, NESIC,) have begun demonstration tests of mobile radio communication systems utilizing private
5G, referred to as “Local 5G” in Japan, as a joint industry-academia collaborative study aimed at the“smartification” of Syowa Station, Antarctica.
In December 2021, the 63rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition team (Leader: Shuki Ushio,JARE63) arrived at Syowa Station, and began installing private 5G facilities as part of preparatory workfor wintering. Preparing for installation was almost completed by the end of January 2022, and with thestart of wintering in February, we began testing and operating the world’s first private 5G system in theAntarctic region.
Since the establishment of the Intelsat satellite communications facility at Syowa Station in 2004, wehave been able to constantly transmit observations and use the internet via cable connections. Now, wecan use Wi-Fi in the main rooms of the station. On the other hand, when outdoors, transceivers havebeen almost the only means of communication. During this demonstration, private 5G communications
using smartphone terminals, etc. can be performed even outdoors.
Since 2020, NIPR and NESIC have been conducting joint research aimed at the smartification of
Syowa Station. This study aims to improve the outdoor communication environment around Syowa
Station, which has conventionally been restricted to communication using transceivers, and to construct
a large-capacity, high-speed, and wide-range data communication environment, thereby improving theefficiency of the scientific observation activity by video communication and various applications, aswell as improving the safety of JARE members.

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<Outline of the Private 5G Demonstration Experiment at Syowa Station>
A private 5G base station facility has been installed on the roof of the Fundamental Observation
Building at Syowa Station to conduct demonstration tests using private 5G on Higashi-Ongul To (“EastOngul Island”), where Syowa Station is located, and on the sea ice in the vicinity.
Figure 1 shows the estimated range of radio waves arriving from base stations installed in theFundamental Observation Building. We will conduct video relays utilizing broadband low-delay circuits,
which are characteristic of private 5G, and conduct remote monitoring of base facilities in the main areaof Syowa Station, and on sea ice centered in Kitanoura (“Northern Cove”), to improve the safety ofJARE members and test applications for reducing workloads. We will also evaluate the impact of4.8GHz-band radio waves used in private 5G on observations at Syowa Station.
■Demonstration experiment period: December 2021 to January 2023 (JARE63 wintering period)■Details of the experiment:
・ Construction of private 5G, private BWA (*1) and sXGP (*2) systems and radio wave
propagation tests
・Testing video relays from the field※1 private BWA: A communication system for 4G used in a particular area
※2 sXGP: 4G based communication system for private communications

Fig. 1: Assumed coverage area of the Syowa Station Private 5G Base Station. It covers almost
the entire area of Higashi-Ongul To where Syowa Station is located.

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<Syowa Station Private 5G Base Station>
The private 5G base station was installed on the roof of the Fundamental Observation Building atSyowa Station. (Fig. 2). Since the 4.8GHz-band radio waves used in private 5G are excellent inrectilinear travel, they were set up so that private 5G servicing can be used over a wide area of the station
by installing them in a building with good visibility in the main part of the station.

Figure 2 Left: Fundamental Observation Building (photographed in July 2021). The antenna of the base station wasinstalled on the roof of this building.
Right: Base station installation status (area enclosed by red oval)

Fig. 3: A member of JARE operating a smartphone outdoors in Syowa Station and using private 5G communications<Private 5G Networks as Information and Communication Infrastructure at Syowa Station>
Mobile terminals used for demonstration tests can be used as information communication terminals
among the crew, including outdoor video transmission, through private 5G networking. Furthermore,by connecting to the Internet via the Syowa Station Network and satellite communication lines, we plan
to be able to use a variety of services, including support for remote observation from within Japan.

3 test configuration at Syowa Station, Antarctica
Fig. 4: Conceptual diagram of private 5G demonstration

<Future Development>
Based on the results of this demonstration experiment, we plan to advance the large-capacity, highspeed, and wide-range data communication environment at Syowa Station and promote the smartness
of Syowa Station by utilizing advanced technologies. It is expected that this will lead to the advancementof Antarctic observations in a variety of ways, including monitoring and remote control of stationfacilities, ensuring the safety of JARE members, communications, and controlling observationequipment and new observation methods.
<Research Members>
Masaki Okada (National Institute of Polar Research)
Kazuo Higuchi (National Institute of Polar Research)
Shinichiro Kugimitsu (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)
Toshikazu Harazono (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)
Hajime Oishi (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)
Akira Takayama (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)
Morikatsu Matsuo (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)
Kazuhiko Oda (NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation)< Engineering representative at Syowa Station>
Kazutaka Mitsuno (63rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition wintering team)Contact(About research details)
Masaki Okada, National Institute of Polar ResearchE-mail: kofositu@nipr.ac.jp (Public Relations Section)
Digital-Town Promotion Division, Business Design Operations Unit, NEC Networks & System
Integration Corporation
E-mail: multi-network@ml.nesic.com(Press Release)
Public Relations Section, National Institute of Polar Research
TEL: 042-512-0655 E-mail: kofositu@nipr.ac.jp
Corporate Communications Division, NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation
TEL: 03-6699-7004 E-mail: contact@dm.nesic.com

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