A field trial of 5G has been successfully carried out by Samsung Electronics and KDDI at the Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Japan, to realize the potential of the high-speed network in enhancing the fan gameday experience.
Samsung’s 5G technology was able to showcase a live feed of 4K video content downloaded and streamed simultaneously on 5G tablets supporting the millimeter wave spectrum.
To create the cellular coverage for seating in the direction of the home plate and first and third bases, 5G access units with beam-forming technology were installed on a light tower located outside the left field fence.
The successful trial reflects the efforts in using 5G technology to offer a new era of fan engagement in crowded environments.
The connected stadium could one day be able to offer fans the ability to experience sports in new ways, such as using real-time virtual reality or augmented reality content beamed to mobile devices. Fans could watch the action live and at the same time have additional stats or information on players or previous plays in a more immersive way.
“5G holds the powerful potential to create new user experiences and business models that are more immersive and dynamic than ever before,” said Youngky Kim, president and head of networks business at Samsung Electronics.
“Through our collaboration with KDDI, we will stay committed to exploring 5G-driven business models that can be applied in diverse high-demand locations based on a wide range of methods.”
The first real-world, wide-scale test of 5G was recently carried out at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, where the next generation mobile network provided the Olympic fans in attendance with enhanced viewing such as real-time streaming virtual reality. The trial, which also was a success, showed what 5G could offer when its scheduled roll-out begins in 2020.
March 28, 2018
