Ericsson, T-Mobile, and Qualcomm have announced successful XR (Extended Reality) trials on a live 5G SA (Standalone) network. The trials are designed to validate the viability of XR technology in enhancing user experiences.
John Saw, Executive VP and CTO at T-Mobile, said: “This pioneering trial showcases how T-Mobile’s 5G Standalone network, enhanced by advanced capabilities like network slicing and low-latency optimisations, is unlocking the full potential of 5G Advanced.
“With our network’s proven readiness and strength, we are excited to power a new wave of immersive experiences, delivering unparalleled XR experiences to our customers.”
The collaborative effort focused on testing several critical aspects of XR deployment on a live network, including:
- Network readiness: Ensuring seamless XR experiences on T-Mobile’s commercial 5G Standalone (SA) network.
- 5G Advanced features: Validating the efficacy of network slicing, Uplink Configured Grant, Low Latency, Low Loss, and Scalable Throughput (L4S), and advanced schedulers.
- Device capabilities: Utilising AI-powered immersive smart glasses equipped with the Snapdragon AR2 Gen 1 Platform, tethered to a 5G Snapdragon Mobile platform, both from Qualcomm Technologies. The trials also incorporated Hololight’s XR streaming service to optimise device and infrastructure performance.
Ericsson deployed its 5G Advanced software portfolio to facilitate both remote and locally rendered augmented reality (AR) visuals. This deployment aims to accelerate the adoption of rich AR and XR experiences across wide-area 5G networks. The lightweight AR glasses used in the trials represent a compelling use case for enhancing user experiences and driving increased network traffic.
Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line Cloud & Purpose-built 5G RAN at Ericsson, commented: “Ericsson’s 5G Advanced software is a game-changer for the latest slim AR glasses. It delivers high downlink and uplink speeds, low latency for sharp visuals, real-time information, and seamless hands-free operation.
“By enabling innovative applications like XR over a reliable, secure, and high-performing network, we are transforming the way people interact with the world.”
The trials highlight the commitment of all three companies to pushing the boundaries of 5G technology, paving the way for the next generation of immersive experiences.
Ziad Asghar, SVP & GM of XR at Qualcomm, explained: “These XR trials are demonstrating the potential of XR and 5G technology working together to highlight the value of distributed spatial compute and low latency on-device features, which are powered by Snapdragon XR platforms.
“By utilising distributed spatial compute capabilities, we are helping expand the horizons of what is possible in augmented reality and smart glasses.”
(Photo by Kevin Doyle)
See also: Microsoft and Anduril partner to salvage military AR project
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