South Korean telecommunications company KT is using the home of KBO League baseball club KT Wiz as a showcase for services available through the latest 5G technology.
KT Wiz Park in Suwon, south of Seoul, will show off millimetre wave (mmWave) 5G services as KT seeks to step up efforts to commercialise the technology. Local mobile carriers currently offer 5G networks on the mid-band spectrum, but have yet to harness the high-band spectrum, mmWave, which provides the fastest 5G speeds.
KT has developed 5G-enabled offerings including real-time fan hologram meetings, cloud gaming and virtual reality. Fans are being allowed to experience the bullpen and players’ locker room at KT Wiz Park in VR through their own avatar character.
Initially, the demonstration was set to be provided in-person at the ballpark starting yesterday (Tuesday), but the KBO League’s COVID-19 lockdown has prevented this. The League has suspended its ongoing 2021 regular season due to an outbreak of cases.
The Korea Baseball Organization made the decision at an emergency board meeting, with 30 matches postponed that had been scheduled for Tuesday through to Sunday. Before Monday’s meeting, there had been five reported cases of COVID-19 involving two clubs, NC Dinos and Doosan Bears, meaning that multiple games were cancelled over the weekend.
KT has said it will now provide its 5G showcase through YouTube from July 19. Kim Young-in, managing director of KT Network Strategy Headquarters, added: “We have put our heart and soul into preparing an innovative demonstration service that combines with baseball games at Suwon KT Wiz Park.
“We will continue to make efforts to develop 28GHz-based 5G technology and services.”
Images: KT
Share this