GSMA Launched Edge Cloud Initiative for AR/VR Technology

GSMA launched a new industry-wide initiative called The GSMA Cloud AR/VR Forum that will focus on the development of edge cloud virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology. The aim of the new initiative is to Collaborate to Accelerate Deployment of 5G cloud-based Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality  (AR/VR) Technology.

GSMA is a body that represents interests of mobile operators worldwide. It unites more than 750 operators with over 350 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organizations in adjacent industry sectors.

The program was unveiled at Huawei’s 9th Global Mobile Broadband Forum in London. The event was backed by mobile operators including China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, KDDI, KT Corp., NTT DOCOMO, SK Telecom, Telefónica, Telenor, TIM, Turkcell, and Vodafone, Huawei and HTC

As of now, only PC or gaming devices provide the basic requirements, such as storage, power consumption, and processing power, needed for AR/VR headsets. This increases the overall cost and key hindrance to the mass adoption of AR/VR. Moving key capabilities to edge cloud platform, will allow consumers to buy cheaper AR/VR headsets clearing the path for its maas adoption. Moving to edge cloud platform will require fast and substantial low latency bandwidth to deliver an ultra-high resolution 4K or 8K viewing experience. 5G technologies and its network capabilities can meet this requirement easily.

PC: Huawei; Group photo of the GSMA Cloud AR/VR Forum

Executive Opinion

Chief Technology Officer (CTO), GSMA, Alex Sinclair, said, “Both VR and AR are disruptive forms of immersive multimedia that, combined with operator edge cloud and 5G connectivity, will transform the cost structures of the enterprise and entertainment fields. Mobile operators will play a key role in its development, but without a common approach and industry-wide collaboration we risk fragmenting the market from the beginning. The establishment of this forum will overcome this hurdle and ensure we can scale compelling solutions faster.”

Senior Vice President (SVP), Group Technology innovation at Deutsche Telekom AG and Chairman of GSMA Future Networks Programme, Arash Ashouriha, said, “The convergence of 5G networks and clouds will enable mass market adoption of immersive experiences like AR and VR. Utilizing scalable computing power at the network edge allows for unprecedented immersive and pervasive customer experience while leveraging cloud economics. Hence, we need to work towards open ecosystems providing common interfaces across the end to end value chain in order to scale cloud AR/VR services fast across different markets. With this approach we will unleash the full potential of 5G.”

The new GSMA Cloud AR/VR Forum will help members to encourage knowledge sharing and new business models including the development of a service reference architecture to avoid cost fragmentation. The technical development areas including research into ultra-low latency codec compression, graphics processing unit (GPU) rendering in the cloud and virtualization technologies, as well as the development of simplified interfaces are also the key focus areas of this new forum, said the announcement.