5G and the smart stadiums of the future
Last updated February 2021 - estimated reading time 5 minutes
Generally speaking, when we think of high-speed broadband and entertainment, we think of high-definition (HD) media delivered to our homes.
Whether it鈥檚 TV or music, viewing habits have radically changed as we鈥檝e moved from broadcast services and physical media to highly personalized, on-demand digital alternatives.
Today, technology consultant Chantal Abadie explains how 5G will improve the smart stadium and live entertainment experience.
Enter 5G
As we enter the era of 5G, the same kind of innovation is set to alter how we experience live entertainment.
Why is that?
From big sporting events to music festivals, venues are beginning to understand how high-bandwidth, low latency communications can enrich fan and spectator experiences.
The stadium of the future is coming.
In the Marseilles trial, just two 5G antennae were used to cover most fan seating for football matches.
That alone, says Abadie, is a breakthrough.
To achieve full public coverage throughout the stadium, using traditional WiFi would require around 1,500 hotspots to be set up. The cost of deployment for 5G, therefore, is much less.
See the game from the goalkeeper's eyes.
With the connectivity in place, cameras around the pitch transmit latency-free video at resolutions up to 8K.
These included 360-degree view cameras just behind the goal lines, which meant that by using their smartphones as virtual reality headsets, fans gained the opportunity to see the game from the goalkeeper鈥檚 perspective.
It sounds great, and it is.
They could stop and rewind play, effectively choosing replays from their desired angle.
The stadium is a popular test for new technology.
Sports stadia and music festivals have proved popular testing grounds for 5G technology.
Thanks to high crowd densities, the technology can be put through its paces with many users connecting simultaneously.
Stadium owners and event organizers are also aware that, as the quality of streaming services continue to improve, they need to work harder to compete for fan attention.
5G can be a game-changer for players too.
Utilizing smartphones to enhance the visitor experience is a smart solution.
- At the home of the , for example, recently trialed 5G for spectators with an augmented reality app that enabled fans to superimpose themselves onto live-action.
- At the in Japan, fans used VR headsets to see the venue from the point of view of on-stage performers.
It wasn鈥檛 just attendees who could experience FUJI ROCK in this way either.
Guests at two external locations could also join in 鈥榦n stage鈥 and talk to the avatars of people at the concert.
Abadie says that 5G inside the venue will also benefit those watching remotely.
Even with the best current technology, there is a lag between what happens on the ground and what appears on the screen. This can be as much as 45 seconds, she explains.
The additional benefit for those attending an event is that visually impaired fans can have access to instant audio descriptions, which also, at the moment, often suffer from a slight delay.
Smart stadiums mean more secure and enjoyable games.
There are many other ways that 5G will make attending live events more enjoyable, Abadie continues.
Real-time updates on which queues are congested and where the best place to enter the venue or buy a snack will ease many current frustrations, while digital technologies running on a high-bandwidth, low-latency network will allow for new ways to manage access.
And, shortly, we鈥檒l be able to make the stadium access a lot smoother (and a lot safer) by removing turnstiles and using facial identification to recognize ticketholders as they enter.
The result?
Only people without tickets and/or hooligans with stadium bans will be stopped while queues for fare-paying customers are dramatically cut.
Security, too, can be improved.
HD cameras in airports and shopping malls already scan for suspicious behavior or known troublemakers. Such cameras using the same biometric identification as at the entrance will be easier to deploy in stadia with 5G covering network blackspots.
We鈥檙e just starting to discover some of the potentials that 5G will unlock.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like the internet in 1999,鈥 says Abadie, 鈥淲e鈥檙e still learning what鈥檚 possible and developing the skills. We don鈥檛 have a clue how it will develop in the future.鈥
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