Football fans in the UK are prepared to pay for a 5G mobile data package in order to virtually watch the World Cup in a stadium.
Almost 48 per cent of UK viewers are willing to pay more for an unlimited World Cup-specific mobile data package to stream matches at 5G speeds without any delays or loss of connectivity, according to a survey by provider of software and services, Amdocs.
Nearly 62pc of the viewers were interested in using the metaverse to be part of a virtual stadium where they could watch sporting events with other fans as if they were there.
While 78pc of fans are sure that their home connectivity will support watching the World Cup, confidence in their mobile network dips to 57pc. Accessibility is also a problem according to the overall respondents, as not all games are available from their TV provider.
The research also revealed that 30pc of the viewers have a growing desire for more interactive experiences like 360-degree live video of the game, 25pc for interactive in-game challenges and 24pc for Augmented and Virtual reality experiences.
Anthony Goonetilleke, Group President of Technology and Head of Strategy at Amdocs said: “As 5G availability expands, we expect to see more service providers creating unique ‘experience packages’ beyond generic 5G speed across all offerings—for instance, a connection specifically for the metaverse or augmented reality sports, and more – even packaged with hardware or other physical goods that enable or complement the experience.”