5G Metaverse: How Will 5G Support The Growth & Development Of Metaverse? 
Tags: metaverse, metaversedevelopment, blockchainmetraverse, nftmetaverse
Published: 2023-06-23 06:50:23

Do you that the current 4G latency is 200 milliseconds? 

It means that the data will take 200 – 250 milliseconds to reach its target. An increased impact time will also increase the response time.  

Though waiting a few seconds to load your chrome page or upload images or process a transaction does not seem worrisome. However, if we compare the scenario to the use cases in the metaverse it's troubling. 

People in the virtual world use AR/VR or XR devices to control their avatars and interact with virtual elements. These AR and XR devices need high bandwidth, a secure network and lower latency to function properly. 

Imagine a situation where your screen starts to buffer the moment your avatar handshakes with other avatars. Or worse the network congestion slows down or hampers the sync between what you are doing and how your avatar is imitating. It will be chaos. 

A 5G network with low latency, high bandwidth, high speed and increased capacity is a cornerstone for metaverse growth. 

5G is crucial in unlocking the full potential of the metaverse, enterprise metaverse use cases and enhanced metaverse experiences. 

Let us dive into the benefits of 5G and how it will pave the way for a more mature 5G metaverse. 

 

## What Is a 5G Network? 
5G stands for the fifth generation, referring to the latest generation of mobile networks. It is the successor to 4G and is designed to provide faster internet speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity to support the increasing demand for data-intensive applications such as virtual and augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and the Internet of Things (IoT). 

5G networks use higher frequency bands and advanced antenna technologies, such as massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), to deliver faster data speeds, higher capacity, and more consistent connectivity. This technology has the potential to revolutionize industries and enable new use cases that were previously impossible with earlier generations of mobile networks.  

 

## 4 Key Benefits of 5G Network 

The top 4 benefits of 5G are as follows: 

## High speed 

The speed of the 5G wireless cellular network will go beyond 4G. Experts predict that 5G will offer speeds up to 10gbps which is 100 times more than 4G. 

With that speed, you can download high resolution movies in 6-7 seconds instead of 7 minutes.  

The 5G speed upgrade will enable limitless exciting possibilities for consumers, telecom providers and businesses. 

## Low Latency 

Latency refers to the time a signal or data takes to go from its source to the receiver and back again. 

One of the fascinating capabilities of 5G is its low latency. In the new 5G network, data will take less than 5 milliseconds for its round-trip transmissions. 

The low latency will support the development and seamless functioning of sophisticated technologies and devices. 

5G latency is faster than human visual processing. Therefore you can operate VR & XR devices for real time interaction better. Moreover, it will also improvise and enhance the XR & MR experiences as you will unlock highly efficient network potential. 

## Enhanced Capacity 

High speed network is undoubtedly exciting and useful. But does the 5G network has the capacity to transform business technological requirements? 

5G has more than 1000 times more capacity than the 4G network. This means that 5G can handle thousands of connected devices simultaneously. 

Where there is a need for a machine to machine communication 5G will offer the benefits of high speed with enhanced capacity for seamless functioning. 

Imagine a 5G industrial use case where hundreds of machines are working to manage the supply chain, ensuring timely delivery, processing payments and avoiding delivery delays using predictive analysis simultaneously. 

## High Bandwidth 

The present day 4G network often fails when a large number of devices are connected. The network congestion leads to lags in video streaming, buffering and sometimes total website shutdown. 

5G networks are optimized to handle the high network traffic and usage spikes. With high speed and capacity, 5G also offers high bandwidth. It means that the 5G network is capable to handle large data transmissions. 

This will mean a more immersive and non-stop metaverse experience for users. 

With 5G, the [metaverse platforms](https://www.chaincodeconsulting.com/services/metaverse-development-company) will be well equipped to handle millions of users simultaneously offering everyone one-of-a-kind virtual experiences. 

Another benefit of high bandwidth is its potential to accelerate big data analytics for businesses.  

 

## Why and How Will 5G Enable The Metaverse? 
Metaverse is a virtual world that replicates the elements and experiences of the physical world.  

You can not only play games in the metaverse but also enjoy several business use cases. 

Metaverse is accelerated through web 3.0 architecture. It includes technologies like AI, blockchain, NFTs, cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, AR, VR, XR, MR, ML, 3D modelling and more. 

These futuristic technologies cannot function properly with limited network capacity, high latency and lower bandwidth. 

The current wi-fi generation suffers from congestion and high latencies. When several XR devices are connected simultaneously, the network fails to produce satisfactory output. 

With slower 4G latency just turning your head in the virtual reality will make you frustrated. Playing games, dancing, walking or interacting is out of the question. 

5G offers reliability, latency and range for the metaverse platforms, apps and technologies to function seamlessly. 

## 5G Fuels Web 3.0 Technologies 

Unlike the current centralized platforms, the metaverse is built over decentralized technologies of web 3.0.  

The web 3.0 technologies that include blockchain, storage databases, smart contracts and others promote a decentralized, transparent, secure and permissionless ecosystem. 

Metaverse tech stack or the web 3.0 architecture is built over traditional technologies. And to ensure the efficient functioning of metaverse technologies, we need an equivalent efficient network that supports the underlying technology. 

At present, the launch of a 5G network that offers high speed, increased bandwidth and low latency is a timely development. 

## 5G Enhances AR, VR & XR Experiences 

Other technologies that make metaverse possible are AR, VR, XR and MR. These technology enabled devices enable us to consume the metaverse content. 

VR or virtual reality refers to the computer-generated 3D virtual elements or worlds which you can interact with in real time using VR devices. Oculus Quest 2, Varjo VR-3, Playstation VR, Valve Index and HP Reverb G2 are some of the popular VR devices. 

AR technology augments virtual elements into the real world. It kind of superimposes digital elements into the physical world which you can view and interact with using AR devices. For example, the AR filters in Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok use your phone's camera to superimpose virtual elements or effects on your face. 

Popular AR devices are HoloLens 2, Lenovo’s ThinkReality and Nreal. Further, you even have AR contact lenses like Mojo Vision and InWith. 

Another futuristic technology which converges the real and physical world is MR. It enables us to overlay the virtual world on the physical world with real time interaction.  

Spatial persistence is a necessary requirement for both AR and MR, which involves anchoring the virtual overlay in the real world even as the user moves around.  

For example, if an AR/MR user moves away from a physical table where a digital vase with flowers is placed, the size of the vase and flowers should appear to decrease in proportion to the physical distance between the user and the table. 

The holographic projection has also gained popularity in recent years, but its long-term viability as a technology remains unclear. While traditional VR and AR rely on rendering 3D worlds on 2D surfaces, advanced stereoscopic AR can provide a holographic-like experience. True holography involves recreating 3D worlds using phase differences in light, resulting in sharper and more realistic 3D images. However, consumer-grade phase-coherent light generation has proven challenging so far. 

Although the XR device ecosystem is still in its infancy, emerging multi-access edge computing (MEC) capabilities like Boundless XR and CloudXR are already moving in this direction. These technologies enable much more immersive experiences, with VR headsets displaying content at higher levels of detail and AR headsets handling more complex real-world interactions.  

One crucial requirement for all these devices is a performant, reliable, and secure network that can offload control and computing tasks from the devices to the edge. To achieve device desirability in terms of weight, cost, and comfort, these devices need to be connected to the lowest possible latency edge server where graphics can be rendered in real-time and then streamed to the HMD like in a video conference. 

Therefore, a reliable, secure, and low-latency wireless connection to XR devices, such as 5G, is essential. 

## Edge Computing 

If there is a delay of several seconds before the avatar you're interacting with the response, the experience in the metaverse can be less than ideal. To avoid this issue, low latency is crucial. Edge computing, which involves moving processing and computing closer to where it's being consumed, can significantly reduce network latency and improve reliability. 

As real-time reactions become more critical in network operations, edge computing will become increasingly vital. It expands on the traditional cloud model of interconnected large data centres by incorporating smaller, physically closer data centres. This enables more efficient distribution of cloud processing, with latency-sensitive tasks located closer to end-users while other tasks are placed farther away, where costs and utilization can be optimized. 

Ultimately, reducing the time it takes to reach the cloud significantly enhances the metaverse experience for end-users. 

 

## Conclusion 
A recent survey by Ericsson shows that 5G will increase metaverse engagement. The survey indicates that 5G users spend one hour more than 4G users on the metaverse. Further, the survey also predicts that users will spend 1.5 hours every day consuming video content on XR devices. 

Therefore, the 5G metaverse is not only about technological advancements and enhanced experience but also about user engagement.  

## Looking to dive into the 5G metaverse revolution? 

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