5G to Drive Cloud Gaming

Cloud gaming could represent up to 50% of 5G data traffic by 2022.

22:26 15 April 2019

Mobile operator executives attending Openwave Mobility’s Mobile Video Industry Council said that cloud gaming could represent 25per cent to 50per cent of data traffic by 2022. The analysis is based on the rapid progression of cloud gaming services in recent months.

 

 

 

John Giere, President and CEO of Openwave Mobility, said: “The recent emergence of cloud gaming platforms including Google Stadia, Apple Arcade, Microsoft xCloud and Snap Games has not escaped the attention of the operator community,”

 

 

 

“Over-the-top (OTT) players have ambitious plans to become the ‘Netflix for gaming’, hosting libraries of thousands of instantly accessible games that, ultimately, will consume three to four times the amount of bandwidth on 5G networks, compared to standard definition video traffic. Needless to say this will impact mobile operator data strategies.”

 

 

 

Giere concluded: “While 5G network rollouts are still in their infancy, OTTs are already planning Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality services, in addition to cloud gaming. Combined with the expected continued growth of streaming video, these services will rapidly eat into the additional bandwidth provisions of 5G.”