The rollout of 5G is particularly exciting for sports fans in Australia. We’re going to take an in-depth look at the many ways in which 5G experiences will change traditional sports in Australia and not just for the fans but for players and coaches too.
5G will bring true low-latency, high-speed connectivity to mobile network users particularly in major cities. It is expected to eliminate the congestion issues that have plagued large sports venues in the past, which is fantastic news for fans of cricket in Australia. Sending text messages, video clips and photos from games will be quick and easy. But the potential changes 5G has to offer go much further than congestion-free social media access for fans.
With the ability to handle vast amounts of data at lightning speed, 5G will make it possible for clubs and venues to deploy Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) apps, providing fans with new and exciting ways in which to view the sport they love. When you attend a game in the future, you’ll be able to point your phone at any of the players in the team and see their live game statistics at any time. Instant action replays will also be available for every ball so it will be like having your own personal Jumbotron on your mobile phone.
Perhaps most exciting is the prospect of using AR and VR headsets to experience the match from the point of view of any of the players. In the future, you’ll be able to see each over from the POV of the bowler, batsman, fielder or wicketkeeper: the choice will be yours. The technology to power these VR/AR experiences is already available but the existing 4G networks can’t really provide the bandwidth required to power them.
VR and AR apps running on 5G networks will radically change the way that home fans enjoy their favourite sport too. Future home viewers may even be able to access all the same player POV feeds as in-stadium fans and they’ll get to choose which stadium camera they want to watch the action from. Most importantly, fans that can’t attend in person will be able to use VR headsets to experience the atmosphere and view they would enjoy if they were actually at the game. 5G experiences like this will transform big cricket matches and other sporting events for fans who normally watch at home
Broadcasters will have access to a huge reservoir of statistics on each match, allowing them to provide more detailed analyses of each performance and to preview future matches more extensively. The sheer wealth of data that 5G will allow them to collect will make for much more informative and entertaining content.
With 5G network speeds and bandwidth, it may even be possible for live footage from fans’ mobile phones to be streamed to TV production trucks and potentially broadcast into millions of homes across Australia. This will make the whole experience more interactive and dynamic for fans at home and in attendance at the grounds. Fans at home will be able to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere in the stands and fans at the grounds will be able to share the emotions they experience at major turning points in each match. In a very real way, it will make cricket fans across the country feel more connected than ever before.
One possible benefit of 5G for cricket and other sports fans that hasn’t been discussed in the industry much yet is the lower cost of entry for new broadcasters. If you’re asking yourself, “What will 5G change for sports broadcasters that will make it easier for new entrants to get started?” The answer is quite simple. It will provide enough bandwidth for companies to use wireless 5G cameras, which will do away with the need for hundreds of metres of cables and an onsite TV production truck. It will be possible to upload footage from these cameras to a connected studio and edit it remotely. Of course, well-established broadcasters won’t really see this as a benefit but, for fans, more competition among sports broadcasters can only be a good thing in the long term.
Many of these ideas have already been successfully trialled in sporting venues across the globe where 5G networks are already available and they are sure to be adopted by major clubs and broadcasters elsewhere as 5G networks are rolled out across Australia and the wider world.
So far, we’ve looked at some of the most important benefits that fans will enjoy when 5G networks cover the country, but they are not the only ones who stand to gain from this new technology. The teams and players also have much to look forward to as 5G becomes available more widely.
The additional network capacity and low latency connectivity that 5G has to offer will enable coaches to use real-time player analytics on a wider scale. With access to statistics and performance metrics for every player in a team, coaches will be able to adjust tactics and strategies in response to changing match situations and help players fully utilise their talents. Sensors that provide physical data and statistics for each player will be able to gauge mood and emotions too, alerting coaches to any potential issues with players under stress. While these sensors are already being used in certain sports, 5G will unlock their full potential, providing the necessary bandwidth for data from an entire team to be transmitted to coaches during matches.
Real-time analytics will also be available to coaches during training sessions, allowing them to tailor the sessions to target weaknesses in individual players and to consolidate on their strengths. With VR/AR technology, it will be possible to simulate real match conditions during training sessions and to simulate outdoor conditions when bad weather forces teams to practice inside. This technology will also allow absent team members to participate in group training sessions: with a VR headset, even players in remote locations will be able to interact with other team members in a simulated match environment.
The data that could be collected over 5G networks won’t just be useful for training purposes: it will also be used by club doctors and physiotherapists to monitor the health and physical condition of every player. With the ability to collect and analyse much greater amounts of information on each player’s vital statistics and performance metrics, sports medicine specialists will be in a much better position to diagnose and treat all types of conditions. It will be possible to identify and treat minor strains and sprains before they have a chance to develop into major issues that require surgery and extended periods of rehabilitation. This should result in less selection problems for coaches and selectors, enabling clubs to put out their best teams for important matches.
All of the possibilities that we’ve considered so far will make a huge difference to both fans and players, but 5G could have a long -lasting effect on the very future of cricket and other traditional sports. Younger fans who might otherwise choose to follow eSports will be attracted by the wealth of 5G experiences on offer, which will create a far more immersive experience.
Clubs will be able to stream short -form content such as player interviews and training videos during game breaks, keeping those with shorter attention spans interested. Teams and governing bodies will also be able to create their own apps and use them to deliver added -value 5G content to both stay -at -home and in -stadium fans, keeping them engaged in the sport at all times. In order for cricket clubs and other sporting organisations to attract and retain new fans, they will need to find ways to stay connected with their target audience in between matches and competitions: the possibilities for new, more exciting content that 5G enables will provide them with the ability to achieve this goal.
Clubs will be able to generate extra revenue by charging for the VR/AR experiences available at their venues. Fans who simply want to watch matches in the way they have always watched them won’t be faced with large ticket price increases while fans who are keen to try the new features will be able to pay for them on demand. This should ensure that no fans are forced to pay more for features they don’t want and those who do want to try new 5G experiences will be able to do so for an additional fee. Overall, 5G should prove to be a very positive development as far as the financial health of cricket and other sports is concerned.
Cricket clubs don’t just need to attract new fans in the future, they need to attract a new generation of players and the VR/AR apps that 5G makes possible will enable them to do so more efficiently. Young sports enthusiasts will have the opportunity to test their mettle against the best professional batters and bowlers in simulated real-match environments. Scouts will be able to access and analyse player statistics over 5G networks from amateur players wearing sensors, which means they will be able to evaluate multiple players in multiple matches without actually being there in person. Clubs will also be able to organise training events for the brightest prospects in virtual environments and provide those players with invaluable feedback as they measure their performances in various ‘real match’ situations.
By providing fans with novel 5G experiences utilising VR and AR apps and devices, cricket teams, cricket associations and broadcasters can ensure a bright future for the sport as it continues to attract new fans from each generation. As fans, we will benefit greatly from the more engaging content and coverage that 5G allows clubs and broadcasters to deliver. As players, we will be able to experience what it is like to participate in international test matches, with VR apps that recreate the atmosphere of major events in great detail.
5G
Vodafone’s 5G Network is progressively being rolled out to selected parts of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth. 5G approved device required, with an eligible Vodafone plan, in a Vodafone 5G Coverage area to access the 5G Network. In non-5G coverage areas, you’ll automatically switch to our 4G networks. Actual speeds vary due to location & network congestion. Check coverage and for updates when 5G is coming to your area on our 5G network support page.