SoftBank Corp. Brings Private 5G to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai (Expo 2025), which runs from April 13 to October 13, is welcoming millions of visitors from around the world, offering them a glimpse into the future of a society powered by AI, robotics and other advanced technologies. To make this global exposition a success, seamless connectivity is essential. Private 5G provided by SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) is playing a crucial role by enabling real-time demonstrations and supporting staff communications at one of the Expo's busiest venues.

Private 5G helps staff operate exhibit smoothly

One highlight of the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion is "Cities in the Future," an initiative organized by the Osaka Business Development Agency supported by SoftBank's 5G connectivity. The project brought together 12 startups from Japan and abroad, each presenting interactive exhibits for healthcare, workstyles, learning, communication and other fields. Visitors can experience innovations, such as an AR-powered walking analysis that recommends personalized exercise routines, and intuitively control a next-generation robotic hand by using AI and muscle signals.

Among these exhibits, ORAM Corporation, an Osaka-based startup that designs, manufactures and markets construction machinery, demonstrated the remote operation of construction machinery located five kilometers away, enabled by SoftBank's Private 5G with ultra-low latency and network slicing. The live demo drew excitement from both children and adults as they watched the machines respond instantly to operators' on-screen commands.

SoftBank's Private 5G also supported smartphone connectivity for approximately 70 staff members during an event. While public Wi-Fi can become unstable in crowded environments, SoftBank's Private 5G ensured smooth and uninterrupted communication, allowing staff to coordinate efficiently, even when network traffic was extremely high.

Real-world challenges provide valuable lessons for engineer and organizers

Providing stable connectivity with Private 5G in the unique and dynamic environment of an Expo pavilion is no easy task. Kazuya Okada, a member of SoftBank's IoT & Platform Division involved in the network design, explained how challenges were overcome.

"SoftBank is driving the use of 5G for industrial applications, so combining remote operations with 5G is crucial when illustrating the future of work. In that sense, being able to showcase a real-world industrial use case at Expo 2025 was highly meaningful.

"Since it runs on SoftBank's mobile network, one advantage of Private 5G is that its network configuration can be pre-tested at different locations. During the exhibition period, we encountered sudden changes in layout and content, which required repeated adjustments. By closely collaborating with ORAM's engineers, we were able to maintain stable connectivity and ensure the demo's success.

"While some exhibitors had to scale back their content due to the limitations of Wi-Fi, ORAM's technical strengths shone through. This experience reinforced the importance of identifying challenges and finding solutions by utilizing real-world use cases. Examples like these are helping to accelerate the broader adoption of 5G."

The exhibiting company and event organizer also provided their perspectives.

"Even with crowds numbering more than 10,000 a day, our remote operation demonstration ran smoothly without any interruptions. With the expansion of our service plans, we hope to accelerate the social implementation of Private 5G."

"Expo 2025 gave us a rare opportunity to verify Private 5G capabilities in both demonstration and operational contexts. We learned many practical lessons that provided us with valuable experiences. Moving forward, we aim to leverage 5G X LAB OSAKA* as a hub to create and support new Private 5G use cases."

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  5G X LAB OSAKA: a facility opened in 2020 by SoftBank in cooperation with the City of Osaka and others. The facility enables companies to conduct technology verification and experiences related to 5G.

Private 5G is more than a temporary solution for Expo 2025-it offers a glimpse into how industries, cities, and societies can transform themselves when equipped with reliable connectivity. From remote operations to healthcare and smart urban development, Private 5G opens doors to safer, more efficient communication, and a more inclusive future. SoftBank will continue to drive innovation by applying Private 5G to address society's challenges.

(Posted on September 4, 2025)
by SoftBank News Editors