Verizon officials said the carrier quietly tested 5G video technology during Sunday’s Super Bowl LII.
The operator conducted a live “virtual sky box” demonstration from inside U.S. Bank Stadium over its high-speed network.
Guests at the game in Minneapolis and engineers at Verizon’s Alley co-working space in New York City were able to view virtual experiences, including live action on the field and high-resolution replays, by wearing virtual reality headsets.
Company officials said the test showcased the capability to bring video and VR to “new levels” with much higher speeds and bandwidth.
“This latest demonstration at Super Bowl LII and in New York City is another example of how we’re pushing 5G to exploit never-before-imagined uses cases and applications,” Verizon 5G Ecosystems and Innovation Executive Director Sanyogita Shamsunder said in a statement.
The carrier conducted 5G trials in 11 markets last year and plans to debut commercial fixed wireless 5G service in up to five U.S. markets by the end of this year.
Verizon also collaborated with Samsung and KT to test a prototype tablet and make a live video call between Minneapolis and South Korea over a 5G connection.
