EE and BT Sports hope fans get a kick out of 5G-enabled AR experiences at live events
British television sports channel BT Sport wants in on the action in the digital video era. These days, that means making a play in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies. To that end, BT Sport has collaborated with EE Limited, a mobile network operator and internet service provider, to develop immersive experiences while watching and performing sports.
The first application the two companies have produced is one in which fans can experience being at live rugby matches but also use smartphones to get real-time, data-intensive AI insights such as ball trajectories and kick distances.
The EE and BT Sport collaboration is part of the 5G Edge-XR project, which is said to demonstrate how the potential of EE’s 5G network, paired with cloud-based graphics processing units (GPUs), can enable consumers to view events in highly immersive ways.
“Our work at Adastral Park alongside world-class innovators including BT Sport and our 5G Edge-XR partners demonstrates how EE’s 5G network can support services that deliver uncompromised audio and visuals,” said Lisa Perkins, research realization Director at BT. “We’re excited to be unveiling experiences that could transform sports, culture, and the arts as well as demonstrating the benefits 5G can bring to people and businesses.”
The 5G Edge-XR integrates the potential of EE’s 5G network along with the cloud graphics processing unit enabling a wide range of highly immersive and enhanced experiences. Supported by The UK’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), The Grid Factory, Condense Reality, DanceEast, Salsa Sound, and The University of Bristol, the 5G Edge-XR project explores the edge solution for diverse industries from construction, healthcare to retail and entertainment.
Another application of 5G and edge computing technology is in motorsports, where the application for AR provides a virtual multi-screen “viewing suite” offering 177 different video panels. The viewers can also access the circuit map showing the position of the riders throughout the race with the full-size 3D rendering of motorbikes with spatial audio.
“EE and BT are again demonstrating the powerful creative and operational benefits that 5G technology can bring to sports and broadcast,” said Jamie Hindhaugh, chief operating officer, BT Sport. “These new experiences, which capitalize on the breadth of broadcast and mobile expertise across BT and EE, re-affirm the important role that 5G will play in re-imagining how the sport is watched both at stadia and via television.”
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Article Topics
5G | AR/VR | BT Sport | CDN | EE Limited | mixed reality
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