Shhh: Verizon network engineers quietly worked behind the scenes at Super Bowl LII to test the limits of 5G

MINNEAPOLIS and NEW YORK – Super Bowl LII was the backdrop for a quiet 5G proving ground, as Verizon tested an in-stadium pre-commercial 5G network connection to demonstrate how massive speed and bandwidth can bring live video and virtual reality experiences to new levels.

 

Donning virtual reality headsets, network engineers at Alley, Powered by Verizon in New York City and Verizon guests at the Super Bowl at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis participated in a live demonstration of 180-degree stereoscopic in-stadium view live action on the field, as well as a virtual in-stadium experience including high-resolution replays on secondary screens, all delivered over 5G wireless technology.

 

“Since we first set out to create the world’s largest set of 5G test markets, we learned a tremendous amount about what the technology could deliver,” said Sanyogita Shamsunder, Executive Director, 5G Ecosystems and Innovation. “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 recently showcased how the single-digit millisecond latency of its 5G network could be used by two leading football players in an on-field demonstration without compromising their real-world speed and reaction times. Using only 5G-connected first-person goggles and helmet-mounted cameras, the two players were able to throw, catch and deflect passes with the same speed and precision as they could with the naked eye.