Vodafone is trialling new 5G-powered GiveVision headsets on Centre Court and No. 1 Court at The Championships. This will let visually impaired fans watch live tennis like never before, the 5G technology has ever been used in tennis.
Live footage is streamed from local TV cameras over Vodafone 5G to the GiveVision headsets. They then enhance the footage to suit the person’s specific sight profile, by bringing it closer to their eye to stimulate the photoreceptor cells in the retina (cells that respond to light), which means a degree of sight can be regained.
By using 5G, fans can be ‘fully immersed’ in the action, as they can watch the match live from anywhere in the stands. Previously, sports fans using the headsets could watch the live broadcast feed. But they would need to stay within 10-20m of a transmitter box in a pre-determined ‘accessibility’ area, with each box only able to support a limited number of headsets.
Vodafone 5G covers an entire court or stadium, in unlimited numbers, so visually impaired fans can enjoy the action from anywhere in the crowd alongside their friends and family. This showcases how the power of 5G technology can help make sport more accessible to more people.
As well as accessing the live feeds, people testing the headsets can switch between modes and use the camera phone in the headset to focus on whatever action they like.
The headsets are being trialled for the very first time at Wimbledon by visually impaired tennis fans and players Rosie Pybus (31), Ivan Rodriguez Deb (17) and Sinead Grealy (51).
Rosie Pybus says, “Providing opportunities like this really helps to open tennis up and make the whole experience more inclusive. The technology is brilliant the clarity, the option to change modes, the ability to see whatever I want it gives me such a sense of freedom.”
After trialling them Sinead Grealy says, “These 5G headsets are amazing and will be life-changing for so many people. It’s incredible that I’ll be able to enjoy live sporting experiences like this in the future and I’m beyond overwhelmed at the moment.”
Ivan Rodriguez Deb says, “As a visually impaired tennis player and a huge tennis fan, I can’t put into words how I feel at the moment. Being able to track the ball, see the spin and focus on all the finer details is a real game-changer it’s amazing.”
Using Vodafone’s 5G network to power the headsets removes the lag between the broadcast feed and the headsets, as well helping to increase the speed of the GiveVision headsets in a live sport environment, making them accessible to more people and in more locations.
As each individual’s sight loss varies, the headsets can be adjusted to fit the specific requirements of each person, allowing the wearer to tailor the experience to their personal needs and independently follow the on-court action. This includes features like amending the zoom, brightness and contrast of the footage.
After a trial, Vodafone is exploring the possibility of making the 5G headsets more widely available at future Championships, as well as at other live sporting events across Vodafone partners.
Vodafone’s UK chief commercial officer, Max Taylor, says, “At Vodafone we are committed to using our technology to bring fans closer to the action. Wimbledon is one of the most iconic moments in the British summer calendar, and we are proud to be able to showcase how the power of our 5G network can help make the sport more accessible to people.”
GiveVision CEO, Elodie Draperi, says, “At GiveVision, our mission is to redefine accessibility standards for visually impaired spectators at all UK sports and entertainment venues. By working with Vodafone and using their 5G network, we’re improving stadium accessibility without any infrastructure changes, giving visually impaired tennis fans an immersive experience at the prestigious Wimbledon Championships.”
Wimbledon’s marketing & commercial director, Usama Al-Qassab, says, “We want Wimbledon to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, and we are delighted to support this fantastic initiative by our Official Partner Vodafone and GiveVision. These headsets have the ability to make a groundbreaking difference to the Wimbledon experience for guests with vision impairment. I am thrilled that they can watch all the match action in real time, sitting with their friends and family, and enjoying the tennis.”
The activity is part of Vodafone’s commitment to improve accessibility across both sport and music, following their development of haptic suits for deaf music fans at last year’s Mighty Hoopla and the addition of all-new visually impaired and wheelchair categories to Play Your Way To Wimbledon, powered by Vodafone, the UK’s largest mass participation tennis competition.
Vodafone remains committed to using 5G technology to enhance live experiences. The collaboration with GiveVision demonstrates the potential of what is possible in the digital future.
However, a merger with Three UK unlocks a digital future faster, to invest £11 billion (€12.83 billion) and reach over 99% of the UK population with 5G Standalone by 2034. By having 5G network sooner, the merger will deliver up to £5 billion (€5.83 billion) a year in economic benefit by 2030.
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