5G to Transform Fan Experience at Indy 500

With the help of 5G, fans watching this weekend’s Indianapolis 500 will be able to see the action from several viewpoints, virtually stand on the track and in the pit and sit in on the drivers’ meeting. 

Verizon reported Tuesday (May 24) that it will be providing these and other services for the Sunday (May 29) event through its 5G Ultra Wideband, which provides a broadband-like connection in this and other stadiums and arenas. 

“With 5G Ultra Wideband’s massive capacity, low latency and super-fast speeds, we’re giving racing fans new immersive experiences that will let them personalize how they’re watching the race, whether they’re at the track or at home,” Srini Kalapala, senior vice president of Verizon technology and product development, said in a press release announcing the company’s plans. 

Demonstrating the Capabilities of 5G 

Sports events have become popular venues for mobile carriers to demonstrate the capabilities of 5G, as they bring together large numbers of people who are creating traffic that might overwhelm an older cellular network, who want to get a good view of the action and who are looking for new ways to optimize their experience. 

For example, in December, AT&T installed at the United Center in Chicago two 5G-powered kiosks that enabled fans of the Blackhawks and the Bulls to take video and photo selfies with augmented reality (AR) versions of players and mascots. 

Later, the mobile carrier added  this “Pose with the Pros” feature to the teams’ apps, which also use 5G and AR technology to show player and team stats superimposed on what is seen through the camera on the user’s smartphone. 

“Our network is packed with speed and capacity to deliver these custom experiences to a stadium near you and to the screen in your pocket,” Jay Cary, vice president of 5G product and innovation at AT&T, said in a press release announcing the launch of these features. “It’s all about creating new, immersive ways to connect you to the teams and players you love while making it all look seamless to you.” 

Read more: Augmented Reality at Chicago’s United Center Powers the 5G Connected Fan Experience 

Similarly, T-Mobile said in March that it is collaborating with Red Bull and using its 5G network to cover live sports events and deliver drone footage, athlete point-of-view cameras and simultaneous high-definition broadcast streams. 

Through the Red Bull TV app, they will also provide multiple viewing angles of the events as well as near real-time biometric and telematic data, including competitors’ heart rates and acceleration. 

“These immersive experiences are made possible by T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network, which enables high-definition cameras and sensors to transmit large amounts of content wirelessly in real time, allowing for true mobility,” T-Mobile said in a press release announcing the collaboration. 

Providing Livestream, Seven Camera Angles, Augment Reality 

At the upcoming Indy 500, Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband will enable fans to watch a livestream of the public drivers’ meeting via BlueJeans by Verizon. 

With Verizon 5G Multi-View, which is available on the INDYCAR app, fans at the track will be able to see seven live camera angles in high definition so they can toggle between different views of the action. 

With Verizon’s 5G Ultra Pass, fans at home will be able to enter an augmented reality (AR) portal that will virtually transport them to the track and the pit during the race. There, they’ll be able to get a 360-degree view of what’s happening at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

In addition, 5G will provide the capacity needed to enable the expected 300,000 attendees to connect and use their mobile devices at the track without delay. 

“Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband has the area covered so attendees can stream, tweet and share their experiences quickly and reliably,” Kalapala said. “In fact, in all of Indianapolis, 52% of Verizon’s network traffic is on 5G Ultra Wideband.”