Telefónica and its strategic partner Ericsson presented this afternoon in the Agora of the Spanish company’s stand at MWC 2024, the keys to the technology, art and music experience that unfolded during the historic concert offered in the Gran Teatre del Liceu on the evening of February 26th.
As part of the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations, which are celebrated on April 19, Telefonica hosted a unique concert by Chinese pianist Lang Lang as the first major event. Telefonica and Ericsson, working with leading partners in their fields, Igor Studio and Musion 3D, have succeeded in enriching the real world with the virtual world thanks to the jointly developed 5G network.
Both companies agree that 5G technology, already available, will enable memorable, quality-guaranteed experiences for users wherever they are: 5G Standalone (SA) capabilities allow the transport of different data streams while ensuring their respective performance requirements, guaranteeing simultaneous video and audio, thousands of viewers connected, or crucial data packets for a full audience immersion with the show or artist.
To guarantee the link bandwidth, low latency (the time it takes for data packets to be transmitted over the network) and absence of jitter required for this experience, Telefónica and Ericsson built a 5G SA private network at the Liceu Theatre using Ericsson Private 5G solutions. The private network was configured for 5GSA using 100 MHz of Telefónica’s 3500 MHz band spectrum.
To recreate Lang Lang’s holographic twin, multiple cameras were used to capture every detail of his performance, then utilising 5G’s high sustained upload capacity to transmit the images in 4K format to create a high-quality holographic representation in real time.
Lang Lang’s finger movements on the holographic piano were interpreted and transmitted via an audio protocol to the mobile network. The audio signal was decoded by the actual piano, which then triggered an automated playback system to play the music through the holographic representation of the pianist.
A key requirement was a connection with minimal latency and jitter – two hallmarks of 5G – to ensure that Lang Lang and his holographic twin performed in perfect sync with the audio.
Telefonica’s global CTIO, Enrique Blanco, reflected on Monday’s event, which kicked off the company’s 100th anniversary celebrations, saying: “To mark Telefonica’s 100th anniversary, we worked with Ericsson to deliver an innovative experience that blended an immersive experience with music, video and holograms in one show. To achieve this, we took advantage of the unique properties of Telefonica’s 5G network: high capacity and low latency. We showed how it is possible to combine technology and art, integrating the real world with new forms of communication such as holograms and breaking down the barriers between the physical and virtual worlds. The result was an unprecedented experience, combining real and digital objects interacting with each other and an enriching reality show,” Blanco explained.
Andres Vicente, president and CEO of Ericsson Spain and Portugal, described Monday’s event at the Liceu as the first of many innovative experiences that will be enabled by 5G: “This is an important step towards the future of live events and shows how 5G connectivity can break through the limitations imposed by fixed elements, enabling mobility, multiple scenarios and physical and digital interaction with high-quality video and music, resulting in unprecedented immersive experiences. This paves the way for the entertainment industry to explore powerful new monetization strategies and innovative artistic expression, while also improving efficiency and sustainability.”
The creative and artistic direction of the concert was handled by Igor Cortaderas, CEO of Igor Studios, who explained the overall design of the show and the importance of involving the live audience: “Art and technology, the most sophisticated forms that serve to communicate between people, bring us together in this event that celebrates the 100th anniversary of a company that has been at the forefront of its field,” said Igor.
Ian O’Connell, co-founder of Musion 3D, spoke further about the double piano experience and how the audience will barely notice any difference between the real and virtual pianos, and between the real Lang Lang and his holographic representation: “We are proud to be part of this incredible project, together with Ericsson, which marks the start of Telefonica’s 100th anniversary. Thanks to the extraordinary capabilities of 5G, we have been able to take large-format, high-speed holographic technology to the next level, transforming live performances and further enriching the audience experience.”
The concert kicked off with a “swarm” of 36 drones, which flew over the stage for five minutes forming a giant Telefonica logo and the numbers marking the 100 years the company is celebrating.
Considered by critics to be the greatest pianist of his generation, Lang Lang reinterpreted classical favorites by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Mendelssohn, and for the first time was able to share his emotions and artistic world with audiences thanks to the sensor-connected, LED-lit jacket he wore during the concert, which allowed audiences to feel his heart beating to the rhythm of the music.
Throughout the concert, Lang Lang invited the audience to directly participate, creating musical chords on their mobile phones and performing alongside the artists. This moment of collective creation was the culmination of an evening where an unprecedented convergence of technology, music and art made the audience feel like they were part of the show.
For more information, please see below. Telefonica at MWC 2024
