How do we address the network and connectivity challenge of creating the metaverse?

techUK’s technology and innovation programme is partnering with the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme to explore how current telecoms networks become metaverse ready, as part of techUK’s new metaverse campaign.

The concept of a metaverse – a virtual world in which we experience the life of our digital twin – may soon be a reality for UK businesses and consumers. Whether this concept develops into an all-encompassing metaverse - an immersive evolution of the world wide web - or individual applications to industry verticals like entertainment and manufacturing, advanced communications networks and high capacity infrastructure will be essential if the metaverse becomes a reality.

Highly reliable, high throughput and bounded latency networks will be needed for multiple end users, possible from different digital and immersive devices, to engage with seamless connected worlds. 5G networks that provide ultra-reliable low latency communication could provide one route of access into the metaverse, whilst Wi-Fi 7 and other forms of advanced connectivity will also be needed to offer the required speed the metaverse may need. But this is not an easy task, and there are infrastructural and costly barriers to ensuring that current networks are becoming metaverse ready.

As such, this session will navigate the connectivity requirements of the metaverse and how this aligns with current infrastructure. We will look at some of the solutions being offered to address the technical challenges in providing metaverse ready communications networks, and what use cases this may unlock. Furthermore, this session will also explore the role of telcos in ensuring the metaverse is built on a foundation of openness and interoperability, and be accessible to as many people as possible. In the process of doing so – creating access to a fairer internet.

Speakers include:

• Andy Gower, Head of Interactive and Immersive Content Research, BT

• Dean Bubley, Founder and CEO, Disruptive Analysis

• Jeevan Namboodiri, Senior Consultant – 5G, CGI

Laura Foster

Associate Director - Technology and Innovation, techUK

Laura is techUK’s Associate Director for Technology and Innovation.

She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology

Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.

Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.

Email:

[email protected]

LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster

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Sophie Greaves

Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK

Sophie Greaves is Head of Programme for Communications Infrastructure and Services at techUK, and oversees the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.

Sophie was promoted to Head having been Programme Manager for Communications Infrastructure and Services, leading techUK's telecoms activities, engagement and policy development. Previously, Sophie was Programme Assistant across a variety of areas including the Broadband Stakeholder Group, Central Government, Financial Services and Communications Infrastructure programmes.

Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

020 7331 2038

Twitter:

@SJMJames1

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/

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