It doesn’t seem like too long ago that the hype and fears around 5G internet were kicking up a fuss.
As 5G masts went up around the world, some would quickly upgrade their smartphone plans to make the most of the super-fast, super-reliable connections. Others would protest because social media told them the masts were bad for them.
Now, it seems that 5G is an accepted and even a fairly commonplace use of tech – even if most people aren’t maximizing its potential. It might already be the case, however, that 5G is a bit outdated. 5.5G, also known as 5G-A (5G-Advanced) is unlocking a new tier of the already incredibly advanced tech, doubling down on all of the hailed benefits of switching from 4G to 5G. Already, we’ve seen this new tier of internet deployed in Shanghai.
Transforming the Marathon’s Live Broadcast
The Shanghai International Marathon has run the streets of the Chinese city since 1996, going from the Bund Bull to the Xujiahui Sports Park. Being a Platinum Label Road Race, not only does it draw in the crowds, but it’s also loaded with runners. In 2024 race, which took place in December, some 38,000 people were there to run the scenic route past many of the city’s greatest landmarks over 26.2 miles.
Given the number of runners, the size of the crowds, and both the length of the course and what it passes by, hooking up live streams and real-time data is, naturally, a very demanding process. The 2024 Shanghai Marathon deployed 5G-A to enhance the experience, allowing for download speeds of 1Gbps and uploads that could support 4K and even 8K live streaming.
Even before 5G-A, we’ve seen some pretty spectacular adaptations and additional elements added to live-streaming products. The most advanced in the mainstream is surely found online, where live streaming tech allows for interactive, real-time play. This is the case at the NJ casino online, where live casino games and live game shows continue to be the main attraction. Here, players see the live-streamed game live and bet on it there and then. It creates a very immersive experience that blurs the line between playing online and playing in person.
The deployment of 5G-A made similar real time features at the marathon viable. A new feature known as “Star Run” combined live commentary with the perspective on the track, letting viewers follow athletes with 5G-A broadcasting gear much more closely.
Integrating the Broadcasts through 5G-A
The evolution of 5G into 5.5G has enabled the runners of the Shanghai Marathon to tap into a whole host of additional integrated formats to enhance the experience even further. In basic terms, the step-up increases the speed, functionality, and reliability of connections through low latency and even better network stability. As noted, it allows for superb UHD live streaming, but it also enables Synaesthesia and passive IoT.
The former is a new feature that enables the network to integrate a whole host of inputs and process them simultaneously. By melding the visual, audio, and sensory inputs, the experience becomes much more interactive. On top of this, the use of passive IoT drastically cuts the amount of energy required by connected devices, making the network much more efficient – a necessity for such an event in a city like Shanghai.
The 2024 Shanghai Marathon showcased the power of 5G-A networks, which are said to be ten times faster than regular 5G. Next year, you can bet that the ways in which it’s utilized by the event will be enhanced even more so.