Vodafone and Ericsson recently teamed up to showcase 5G global roaming for eSports using a virtualized 5G core network.
Driving across the Minho River between Portugal and Spain, two renowned gamers from the Vodafone Giants team, showed how 5G is eliminating barriers in the eSports world.The technical demonstration took place on May 22, 2019 from two moving vehicles traveling the three-kilometer distance between Tui in Vigo (Spain) and Valença do Minho in Porto (Portugal). Esport gamers, Fox and Tojor, played together in real time as they crossed the border taking advantage of 5G capabilities and infrastructure.
In addition to mobility gaming, an immersive multimedia experience, showing tourist points of interest in Valença was also demonstrated using the 5G network.
As part of the global roaming demonstration, Ericsson provided virtualized 5G core network functions for both Vodafone Spain and Vodafone Portugal networks along with 5G Radio gnodeBs. This technology allowed for roaming call mobility from one country to the other. Both networks are connected through the Vodafone roaming services network. In addition, two radio locations have been deployed in both Tui and Valença do Minho with 5G Massive MIMO AIR 6488 technology.
Jose Antonio Lopez, Head of Ericsson Spain and Portugal
Ericsson and Vodafone have a strong partnership for innovation, and with this important milestone are for the first time connecting two countries over 5G in mobility and contributing to make 5G a success.
