Bandung, Indonesia – September 18th, 2023 – The xG Research Center of Use Cases and Applications (“xG Research Center”) today announced compelling interim results from its ongoing research into 5G-accessed Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) content. The findings highlight the critical role of optimized 5G network parameters in delivering truly immersive and seamless AR/VR experiences, paving the way for widespread adoption across various industries. 

5G: The Foundation for Immersive AR/VR

The research confirms that specific 5G network capabilities are essential for creating compelling AR/VR applications:

1. Ultra-Low Latency:

• Why it matters: Lag in AR/VR leads to a jarring, disorienting experience, often causing motion sickness. Imagine your virtual world lagging behind your head movements!
• 5G’s advantage: URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication) in 5G aims for latencies under 10ms, ideally closer to 1ms. This near-instantaneous responsiveness is vital for smooth head tracking, interaction with virtual objects, and a truly immersive feel.
• Numbers to note: For a comfortable AR/VR experience, end-to-end latency should ideally be below 20ms.

2. High Bandwidth and Throughput:

• Why it matters: AR/VR, especially high-fidelity VR, demands massive amounts of data to render realistic graphics, stream 360° videos, and support complex interactions.
• 5G’s advantage: eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband) in 5G can provide peak data rates exceeding 1 Gbps, essential for streaming high-resolution visuals and handling the data-intensive nature of AR/VR applications.
• Numbers to note: A high-resolution AR/VR stream might require dozens of MHz of bandwidth.

3. Reliability and Stability:

• Why it matters: A dropped connection or fluctuating signal strength can completely disrupt an AR/VR experience, breaking immersion and potentially causing disorientation.
• 5G’s advantage: 5G’s improved network architecture and technologies like beamforming contribute to a more stable and reliable connection, even in crowded or challenging environments.

4. Edge Computing:

• Why it matters: Processing data closer to the user (on edge servers) dramatically reduces latency, crucial for real-time interactions in AR/VR.
• 5G’s advantage: 5G networks are often designed with edge computing capabilities, bringing computation closer to the AR/VR device and enabling faster response times.

5. Network Slicing:

• Why it matters: AR/VR applications may need a dedicated slice of the network with guaranteed resources (bandwidth, latency) to ensure a consistent and high-quality experience.
• 5G’s advantage: Network slicing allows operators to create virtual, customized networks within the 5G infrastructure, optimized for the specific demands of AR/VR.

Transforming Industries with 5G-Powered AR/VR

These findings reinforce the potential of 5G-powered AR/VR to revolutionize various sectors, including:

• Education and Training: Creating immersive learning environments for enhanced knowledge retention and skill development.
• Healthcare: Enabling remote surgery, patient rehabilitation, and medical training through realistic simulations.
• Manufacturing: Providing workers with real-time guidance for assembly, maintenance, and quality control, improving efficiency and reducing errors.
• Tourism: Offering virtual tours and immersive experiences to enhance visitor engagement.
• Entertainment: Delivering high-fidelity gaming, interactive storytelling, and virtual events.

About the xG Research Center

The xG Research Center is a leading research facility dedicated to exploring the vast potential of current and future mobile network technologies. Established through a dynamic partnership between the School of Engineering and Informatics at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and PT Huawei Tech Investment, the Center focuses on developing innovative use cases and applications for 5G and beyond (xG), fostering collaboration between academia and industry to drive the advancement of mobile technology and its positive impact on society.