Louise Hyland

Tell us about yourself

Louise Hyland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association(AMTA). AMTA is the peak body of the Australian mobile industry and promotes the adoption, monetisation, and sustainability of mobile telecommunications technology for all Australians.

Prior to joining AMTA, Louise was a Principal at Hirst Advisory where she consulted to businesses and government agencies in the telecommunications, telehealth, and infrastructure sectors. Previously, Louise was the General Manager, Commercial Implementation at NBN Co for over six years and prior to that, the Commercial Director and General Counsel of PCCW’s business in Europe.

As the peak body for the industry, AMTA provides industry representation and leadership on a wide range of industry issues including telecommunications policy, mobile network infrastructure, radio frequency spectrum, health & safety, product stewardship/e-waste and recycling, national security, content regulation and consumer awareness & education.

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What are the top 3 trends in your transport/smart city niche that everyone should look out for in the next 5 years?

As the industry body for the mobile telecommunications industry here in Australia, AMTA is excited to see other industries take advantage of the capabilities of the 5th, and upcoming 6th, generation of mobile connectivity. Developments that use 5G to improve safety, mobility, and sustainability are especially pleasing to see.

The enhanced broadband capabilities of 5G networks have the capacity to deliver high-quality video in real-time, particularly in dense and high-traffic urban environments. We’re beginning to see the increased use of 5G-connected CCTV cameras, which can be used to capture vehicle accidents and speeding, traffic conditions and even incidents involving pedestrians. Smart lighting and smart sensor technologies also enable these cameras to pick up sound, which can detect people in distress and notify emergency services where necessary.

Surf Life Saving NSW has identified that 5G could improve beach safety, enabling the use of drones to independently search for and locate missing people and identify potential risks along our coastline. There is also great potential for 5G to change the way we move within cities – including how we manage traffic and transport networks and move in public spaces, as well as the types of vehicles we will use in the future. The City of Melbourne has already started testing how 5G and IoT can be leveraged to improve mobility across the city. Sensors are being installed in the street, in parks and on public transport to monitor pedestrian activity, temperature, air quality and humidity, whilst also examining the impacts of weather, roadworks, traffic congestion and other events. The data collected will help to build a smarter, more efficient, and more comfortable city – and this model can be easily replicated across other cities across Australia. VicRoads are also rolling out monitoring cameras and sensors to better understand their arterial road networks in similar ways, while connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology is being trialled in Perth where a driverless electric shuttle is being used to understand if automated transport can address the city’s urban transport issues.

The rollout of 5G technology is also improving sustainability outcomes, with waste management practices being transformed by ‘smart bins’ – which can detect when they are full, preventing overflows and minimising collection trips. From Palmerston in the Northern Territory to Sydney Zoo, to South Melbourne Markets and Hobart Airport, there are various organisations and councils trialling or rolling out locally made smart bins, with some noticing up to a 90% drop in the frequency of collection.

Finally, there is also a great opportunity for 5G to vastly improve energy efficiency across networks and enabling smart cities to transform certain processes. Through energy efficiency features of 5G networks themselves (like off-peak sleep modes), sensors, smart factory equipment, smart city infrastructure solutions (such as smart lighting) and more, 5G will be critical in helping smart cities meet their emissions targets in the future.

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How do you/your company innovate?

AMTA seeks to promote an environmentally, socially, and economically responsible, sustainable mobile telecommunications industry in Australia.

We drive and support innovation amongst our members, who include mobile network operators and service providers, mobile phone and device manufacturers, retailers, network equipment suppliers and other suppliers to the industry.

Our role in the innovation pipeline is to lead and effectively represent the industry, generate whole of-industry consensus on any issues that we might face and improve trust and understanding beyond the industry – between related industries, key stakeholders and the wider Australian community. When we achieve this, we create the perfect environment for innovation.

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Why is encouraging innovation, new ideas, and tech important?

The benefits of 5G create numerous opportunities – and thankfully in Australia, we’ve been a world leader in mobile telecommunications for decades.

In 2022, AMTA commissioned a Deloitte report (5G Unleashed: Realising the potential of the next generation of mobile technology) that definitively shows the importance of 5G adoption. The report’s economic modelling shows that 5G will increase Australia’s GDP by $67 billion by 2030 based on the current trajectory for adoption, and an extra $27 billion can be realised if we accelerate adoption and maintain our current global leadership position. This translates to a 40% economic uplift over nine years. Aside from the economic benefits, 5G innovations and technologies will have overwhelmingly positive impacts upon the health, safety, wellbeing and sustainability of our communities, improving quality of life for Australians and those abroad.

We are excited to play an instrumental role in rolling out 5G networks and supporting the wider industry, however this alone will not bring change to Australian cities. Moving forward, it’s essential that all levels of government, businesses, organisations, researchers, and Australians continue to innovate, plan and collaborate to build smarter cities and develop new technologies – and the sooner this happens, the sooner we will all benefit.