Vodafone has shown how real drones can be controlled from inside the metaverse using a 5G network.
The low latency provided by 5G opens up use cases that were impractical or impossible on earlier mobile networks.
Early commercial 5G applications included cloud gaming. Over time, the combination of 5G and advances in robotics could make remote procedures such as telesurgery feasible when a patient cannot reach a hospital or when a specialist is located in another city or country.
In the nearer term, however, the biggest immediate impact of 5G will likely be in IoT applications that connect physical devices such as drones. 5G supports broader coverage into rural areas, longer-range connections, and more reliable data links, enabling devices to operate more effectively outside traditional network footprints.
At MWC 2023, Vodafone invited visitors to its stand to enter the company’s purpose-built metaverse and pilot a 5G-connected drone.
Participants experienced the demonstration using a Meta Quest Pro VR headset, while the drone itself was located 830 kilometres (516 miles) away in Seville.
Attending #MWC23? 🇪🇸
Fly a real drone within the metaverse over our #5G network. Visit us in Hall 3, stand 3E11.
Vodafone has extensive experience deploying 5G for advanced IoT projects. For instance, last year the company helped launch the world’s first marine-focused 5G testbed in Plymouth, UK.
Called the Plymouth Sound testbed, the project is a collaboration between Vodafone, Nokia, Plymouth City Council, and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Plymouth Sound uses data boats and solar-powered robotic vessels equipped with environmental and chemical sensors to collect valuable information for scientists studying the marine ecosystem.
Learn from IoT industry leaders. IoT Tech Expo runs events in Amsterdam, California, and London, bringing together specialists to discuss practical IoT deployments, connectivity innovations, and the role of 5G in accelerating real-world applications.
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