Zainiac 2020 - Fifth Edition Zainiac 2020 - Fifth Edition | Page 14

A GAME-CHANGER: IMMERSIVE SPORTS EXPERIENCES POWERED BY 5G For fans, and athletes alike, leading technologies enrich the sporting experience, bringing people closer to the ac- tion, and creating new immersive ways to showcase the commitment, excitement, and teamwork of sports. The television and media entertainment experience has evolved tremendously over the past hundred years. Watching sports went from the stadium to being broad- cast on TV to millions of viewers around the world. Then smartphones came and added some extra complexity, then tablets, YouTube and other on-demand services. Each new generation of viewers bring more emotional, social and explorative methods with which to watch content, in increasingly immersive and personalized ways. Through the evolution of technology, we can push boundaries and take the consumer to the heart of the game itself. This is where 5G can be a vital tool for the sports sector, as it seeks to re-invent the fan experi- ence at home and at the sports arena. Sporting events could better serve both the traveling fan attending every game in person and the die-hard fan catching the game remotely. Through live-streaming video, mixed reality experiences and real-time access to infor- mation about the game, the next generation in mobile wireless technology can create an enhanced experience, reinventing how fans participate in sports. At Home Today’s sports viewing experience at home is driven by a high-quality TV screen, with smartphones and tablets as companions or “second screens.” Fans are looking for new ways to connect to the sporting experience digitally. Ericsson signed a multi-year agreement with Zain to deploy 5G in the Kingdom 12