UK mobile operator EE has streamed a live gig to multiple locations using 5G and augmented reality technology.
Commuters passing through Birmingham’s New Street Station were treated to an in-person performance by four-piece group Bastille, best known for their hit “Pompeii.”
As a demonstration of how 5G can bring live entertainment to people wherever they are, EE also streamed the show to audiences in Liverpool and Edinburgh city centres.
The event combined Nreal mixed reality glasses with the latest Samsung devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Fold 5G, to deliver a real-time, immersive performance.
Pete Jeavons, Marketing Communications Director at BT and EE, commented:
“With 5G, our customers can enjoy immersive experiences no matter where they are, even during their commute and in the busiest places.
We’re saying goodbye to the days of refreshing our screens while waiting to get out of the station into a less congested area.
This extraordinary AR performance from Bastille in three cities simultaneously is a great demonstration of what’s now possible for our customers with 5G.”
The 360-degree augmented reality experience made attendees feel as if they had front-row seats, placing them closer to the artists than many concert-goers might be at a conventional show.
Beyond the live music, the AR layer added dramatic visual elements—city walls crumbling, digital trains and other animated additions—creating a rich audiovisual spectacle.
The performance was recorded for a 5G advertising campaign EE planned to launch in January 2020, designed to showcase how 5G can elevate everyday experiences for customers.
EE first activated its 5G network in May 2019, with initial coverage in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester.
In recent updates, EE expanded 5G to locations including Castlereagh, Guildford, Hamilton, Harlow, Hoddesdon, Kimberley, Lisburn, Maidstone, Sydenham, Watford and Wolverhampton, and switched on initial 5G sites in Liverpool, Glasgow and Huddersfield.
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