As elite sports organizations are digitally maturing and increasingly relying on sports technology for their day-to-day operations, they are investing in platforms and solutions that aggregate and unify data—from on the field and off of it—into a single app or interface for near real-time analysis and prompt action. Technology in sports training relies on the ability to process vast quantities of data at incredibly high speeds, which means, in turn, it needs near real-time compute capabilities. The low latency of 5G can help make this possible.
5G Ultra Wideband and MEC paired with cutting edge applications can help deliver on these modern requirements. With these advanced technologies, professional sports organizations can get deep insights in near real-time, build out bespoke facilities where athletes and coaches go to help improve player and team performance, and ultimately execute their strategic priorities. This advanced network infrastructure gave the Phoenix Suns a crucial assist as they ended a 10-year playoff drought, rocketing from last place to first place within just two years. Looking ahead, 82% of respondents to the Connected Athlete Survey said training facilities and utilization of advanced technology are valuable recruitment and retention tools.4
Organizations in other sports categories have also begun realizing the potential benefits that advanced 5G network architecture could offer. For example, in hockey, investments are being made in a sensor-based puck and player tracking system to create new performance statistics, enhance storytelling capabilities for broadcasters, drive fan engagement, and enable new revenue opportunities.