We’re now seeing more and more smartphones with 5G being released in India like the Oppo F29, Samsung Galaxy F16, and Oppo Reno 13, and we can expect that future releases of the same and other brands will now have 5G. That’s because most of India now has 5G services available.
According to the latest reports, 5G is now available in 773 out of 776 districts in the country, and that’s mostly thanks to leading telcos Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. These efforts are also aligned with the government’s initiative for “Digital India” to improve the country’s digital infrastructure.
5G simply means faster mobile connection, but what does it have to do with other industries like sports? Well, for starters, it can significantly help sports fans improve their viewing experience. Live streaming of matches will no longer be an issue, but there’s more to it than that.
What is 5G Anyway?
As mentioned, 5G means faster wireless or mobile internet connection. It’s the “fifth generation” of this technology and is exponentially faster than its predecessor, 4G LTE. To be more specific, 5G also has low latency and can be as low as 1 millisecond. Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another.
In ideal conditions, 5G can reach speeds of up to 10 Gbps which allows quick downloads data transfer, and smooth streaming. Also, 5G is capable of supporting a massive number of connected devices. So, if you feel like 4G LTE isn’t as useful when other devices are connected to your device, that’s something you won’t have to experience with 5G.
However, some experts have already pointed out that while 5G is generally better, it still comes with disadvantages. According to IBM, the disadvantages of 5G include the risks of cyberattacks, especially when it comes to encryption, because standard 5G connections still don’t have end-to-end encryption.
In India, there are also still places where 5G isn’t available. It’s also unclear when it will be 100% available across the country.
5G for Streaming and Broadcasting Matches
Going back to how faster connectivity can impact sports in the country, 5G allows viewers to stream matches in 4K and even 8K resolution. Because of low latency, there’s reduced buffering. Matches streamed live shouldn’t be lagging as much and should be uninterrupted.
For some streaming services, more features are now widely accessible, like ESPN+’s multi-angle viewing. This allows viewers to switch between different camera angles on a live stream for a more personalized watching experience. You can also watch replays anytime you want.
Allowing New Business Models to Flourish
5G promotes more businesses that used to be ignored because they require faster and stable internet connections. An example of that is sports betting and virtual events. With 5G, the top 5 cricket betting apps like 1xBet, 4Ra, and Stake.com are easier to navigate without slow load times.
The same goes for virtual events that allow fans to experience sports in a fully immersive environment through the use of VR and AR technologies. NBA VR is an example of this because it allows fans to watch live games from a courtside perspective with VR headsets.
Other known platforms with similar features are NextVR for NBA, NFL, and boxing matches; Fox Sports VR (multi-sports), and Virtually Live for motorsports events. Now, virtual sports isn’t really big in India yet, but with the availability of 5G, who knows which of those platforms will blow up next?
How 5G Can Also Help Those in the Sports Industry
Aside from streaming, broadcasting, and fan experience, even the teams and athletes you follow can also benefit from 5G. Sports like cricket are using wearable technologies like GPS trackers and biometric monitors that allow real-time data transfer. 5G makes that process fast and smooth.
5G can be good for communication within the team. With 5G, athletes can receive real-time feedback on their performance during training sessions so they can make immediate adjustments and improve their techniques. Remote coaching and virtual team meetings are also much easier with faster internet.
Wrap Up
5G is more than just a faster internet connection. It allows both the sports industry and fans to do more. Fans no longer have to wait for live broadcasts of matches on TV, as they can easily stream them on different platforms in high definition and without lags.
The sports industry can take advantage of 5G to maximize the benefits of using advanced technologies to improve athlete performance and gameplay.
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