As a company offering solutions for innovators, Summit is dedicated to 5G, VR, AI and IoT. For example, its 5G + VR solution allows users to engage in social augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences by exploring and reliably connecting to 360° video cameras located at sporting events, concerts, and museums over 5G network, which has changed the way how people communicate. In the following interview, Summit will share his insights on 8K VR +5G developments.

Also, partnering with Kandao, Summit is showing 5G + VR solution on MWC (Mobile World Congress) from February 25-28 in Barcelona with the booth 5H31.

Q1: Summit is dedicated to 5G, VR, AI and IoT. Please tell us why you choose 5G+VR as the development direction? 

A1: We support both LTE (Long-Term Evolution) & 5G, that being said, we are keenly aware, the future for VR/AR/XR is 5G. Latency and bandwidth are key drivers for VR, and with 5Gs ability for ensuring latency under 20ms over wireless networks (20ms being the minimum requirement for VR), 5G mmWave will allow for a truly untethered wireless experience.

Q2: What are the scenarios for 5G+VR solution and who can benefit from it?

A2: Imagine a user simply putting on a headset or glasses, connected wirelessly over 5G, and instantly, the network recognizes the user and loads their communication services within the VR environment, allowing the user to experience and share XR experiences with friends, family and colleagues. 5G communication service will leverage existing IMS based services such as Voice, Video and RCS (Rich Communication Services), that being said, you can experience this today with Summit’s VR Calling platform (vwww.vrcalling.com), 5G will only make it better.

Q3: Why you choose Kandao Live 8K for the 5G+VR solution? 

A3: Two mains reasons. 1) Presently, at Obsidian’s price point, very few 8K cameras can capture, stitch and stream at near real-time, with a great image quality. 2) The sensors on the camera are phenomenal at low light. Camera costing 2 to 3x the price did not perform as well.

Q4: To promote and apply this solution, what do you think are the main challenges and how do you think of its potential?

A4: We need to move from near real-time, to real-time live streaming. Additionally, it would be great if telecom trade organizations adopt live streaming standards to seamlessly interoperate with communication services. And finally, 3D experiences need to improve. 5G level bandwidth, latency and cloud computing services will most certainly help.

Q5: Kandao will partner with Summit to showcase 5G+VR solution on MWC19 Barcelona, what’s your expectation for it this time?

A5: Our expectation is quite ambitious. This year, we have prepared a live performance in Hall 5 of MWC, which is captured by Kandao Obsidian, and then stitched and processed with Kandao Live software in real time to produce the 8K VR live stream to an adjacent hall (hall 4). Thanks to real-time stitching and low latency of VR live system, users in hall 4 are allowed to connect with other viewers in hall 5 through live video calls, all within the VR experience while viewing the live stream.