Vodafone Qatar is committed to building a state-of-the-art communications infrastructure that serves Qatar’s digital requirements and leads digital innovation in the sports industry.
The sports industry has rapidly become a shining example of how next-generation technologies can reinvent the way that both fans engage in sport games and sports organisations deliver exceptional and fully immersive experiences.
For fans all over the world, technology is radically transforming and enhancing in-person and traditional entertainment experiences. These technologies have also become crucial in a post-pandemic world to keep people connected and when interacting with their favourite sports, either from home or any other socially distanced setting.
CapGemini’s Emerging Tech in Sports report found that 70% of fans feel emerging technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT), have improved their overall viewing experiences, which means that 56% would physically attend more matches, while 92% would spend more on online subscriptions.
Vodafone stated that the digitisation of the sports industry can have a positive impact on fan engagement and brand value, as well as provide a way to holistically streamline much of events-based operations, including planning and implementation. Events can also be run more efficiently by using technology like 5G or the IoT. Referees are able to make quicker decisions based on real-time data, broadcasters can increase the quality of their services and events managers can keep a tighter control on logistics or venues via connected devices.
Over the last few years, leading telecom providers around the world have introduced pioneering technologies and innovative solutions that are now being successfully used in a sporting context. These investments have paid off given the drastic changes the industry has had to make over the past year, and with technologies like 5G, IoT and VR at one’s fingertips, the benefits are clear for athletes, event hosts, and sport fans.
For instance, IoT is revolutionising the way sports professionals manage player development, player safety, game strategy and analyse potential injuries by providing a stream of data from multiple connected devices, underpinned by a super-fast 5G network for real-time analysis, for insight-led decision-making that transforms the player’s performance while keeping them injury risk free.
In a wider setting in the sports industry, digital transformation within the industry positively impacts key services such as transport, crowd safety and stadium operations, as well as providing fans with a wealth of entertaining and interactive content. Creating experiences that fans will remember is a big part of the reputation that Qatar is building as a destination for hosting global sports events, along with excellent event management, and Vodafone is playing a crucial role in making this happen.
In 2019, Vodafone Qatar digitally transformed fan engagement with the latest emerging technologies by giving thousands of football fans customised VR and AR-enabled gaming experiences in their high-tech ‘Fan Zone’ at the Arabian Gulf Cup. This was the first-ever live 5G and 360-broadcast to take place in the region, and Qatar’s football enthusiasts were able to see why these technologies are a game-changer for live events.
Vodafone stated that the technologies to look out for at the sports events in the future include smart stadiums. Investing in 5G connectivity in stadiums can ensure more reliable communications for both fans and organisers, along with automated stadium operations, and improved crowd safety management through connected IoT devices such as CCTV cameras.
More innovative technologies can now be connected via Vodafone’s 5G network, such as automated fan bus transportation, security robotics, and hologram screens, amongst others. Signs of digital transformation inside Qatar’s stadiums and sports complexes have been evident with Vodafone connecting stadiums in Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Janoub, and Education City to its advanced GigaNet network.
Similarly, several sports are taking advantage of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) capabilities to enable fans to join in with the action on the field. Wearing a VR headset means enjoying lifelike immersive experiences, whilst at home, whether from a 360-degree view from the position of the penalty taker or standing next to a holographic presenter doing live interviews on the pitch.
Access to a 5G or fibre network can create live streaming experiences which get fans much closer to the game, wherever they are. For ultra-high-definition (UHD) video streaming, 5G networks can send large video files at high speed with no delays and no reduction in quality, meaning that you won’t have to rely on playback because you missed out on the action. A reliable 5G network will also benefit media broadcasters who can distribute quality footage and a higher volume of data than by other means.
For fans all over the world, technology is radically transforming and enhancing in-person and traditional entertainment experiences. These technologies have also become crucial in a post-pandemic world to keep people connected and when interacting with their favourite sports, either from home or any other socially distanced setting.
CapGemini’s Emerging Tech in Sports report found that 70% of fans feel emerging technologies, such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), 5G, and the Internet of Things (IoT), have improved their overall viewing experiences, which means that 56% would physically attend more matches, while 92% would spend more on online subscriptions.
Vodafone stated that the digitisation of the sports industry can have a positive impact on fan engagement and brand value, as well as provide a way to holistically streamline much of events-based operations, including planning and implementation. Events can also be run more efficiently by using technology like 5G or the IoT. Referees are able to make quicker decisions based on real-time data, broadcasters can increase the quality of their services and events managers can keep a tighter control on logistics or venues via connected devices.
Over the last few years, leading telecom providers around the world have introduced pioneering technologies and innovative solutions that are now being successfully used in a sporting context. These investments have paid off given the drastic changes the industry has had to make over the past year, and with technologies like 5G, IoT and VR at one’s fingertips, the benefits are clear for athletes, event hosts, and sport fans.
For instance, IoT is revolutionising the way sports professionals manage player development, player safety, game strategy and analyse potential injuries by providing a stream of data from multiple connected devices, underpinned by a super-fast 5G network for real-time analysis, for insight-led decision-making that transforms the player’s performance while keeping them injury risk free.
In a wider setting in the sports industry, digital transformation within the industry positively impacts key services such as transport, crowd safety and stadium operations, as well as providing fans with a wealth of entertaining and interactive content. Creating experiences that fans will remember is a big part of the reputation that Qatar is building as a destination for hosting global sports events, along with excellent event management, and Vodafone is playing a crucial role in making this happen.
In 2019, Vodafone Qatar digitally transformed fan engagement with the latest emerging technologies by giving thousands of football fans customised VR and AR-enabled gaming experiences in their high-tech ‘Fan Zone’ at the Arabian Gulf Cup. This was the first-ever live 5G and 360-broadcast to take place in the region, and Qatar’s football enthusiasts were able to see why these technologies are a game-changer for live events.
Vodafone stated that the technologies to look out for at the sports events in the future include smart stadiums. Investing in 5G connectivity in stadiums can ensure more reliable communications for both fans and organisers, along with automated stadium operations, and improved crowd safety management through connected IoT devices such as CCTV cameras.
More innovative technologies can now be connected via Vodafone’s 5G network, such as automated fan bus transportation, security robotics, and hologram screens, amongst others. Signs of digital transformation inside Qatar’s stadiums and sports complexes have been evident with Vodafone connecting stadiums in Ahmad Bin Ali, Al Janoub, and Education City to its advanced GigaNet network.
Similarly, several sports are taking advantage of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) capabilities to enable fans to join in with the action on the field. Wearing a VR headset means enjoying lifelike immersive experiences, whilst at home, whether from a 360-degree view from the position of the penalty taker or standing next to a holographic presenter doing live interviews on the pitch.
Access to a 5G or fibre network can create live streaming experiences which get fans much closer to the game, wherever they are. For ultra-high-definition (UHD) video streaming, 5G networks can send large video files at high speed with no delays and no reduction in quality, meaning that you won’t have to rely on playback because you missed out on the action. A reliable 5G network will also benefit media broadcasters who can distribute quality footage and a higher volume of data than by other means.