NOS shows international holographic transmission using 5G

Sunday, May 15th, 2022 
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Holographic Journey In 5G Brings The Director Of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ To Lisbon

  • NOS makes the first international hologram in 5G possible
  • Joseph Kosinski interacts in real time with journalists in NOS cinemas
  • Operation involved more than 100 people in Lisbon, London and Los Angeles

On today, the 15th of May, NOS carried out the first international holographic transmission using 5G in Portugal. At this pioneering moment, the director of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, Joseph Kosinski, was transported as a hologram from London to Lisbon for him to take part in a press conference about the launch of the film in Portugal, distributed by NOS Audiovisuals.

Joseph Kosinski made the 1,500 kilometre journey between London and Lisbon in milliseconds. A journey at the speed of 5G, to interact in real time with the audience about one of the most awaited films of the year.

The holographic operation involved installing technological and stage infrastructure in both countries. In London, a stage scene was set up made of a carbon nanotube substance called Vantablack, known as the “darkest substance in the world”, capable of absorbing more than 99% of light. The images were captured using a 4K HD camera and transmitted instantaneously to Portugal using the NOS 5G network.

In Lisbon, the image was transmitted in Full HD 1080 resolution, using the most sophisticated high speed HD codecs, each one able to codify and de-codify 30/60 frames per second in less than 75 milliseconds.

NOS’ extremely high 5G speed in the Alvaláxia cinema, reaching more than 1Gbps, together with almost zero latency, enabled the public to interact with the film director as though he was in the cinema theatre, without any faults or delays. Being a mobile technology, 5G also gave operational flexibility to the solution, as it allowed the installation to be made without the need for fixed infrastructure, making the process simpler and faster.

“Today, NOS took another important step to make 5G a reality in Portugal. Thanks to the infinite possibilities of this technology, it was possible to shorten distances, bring people closer together and make something come true which until now seemed impossible. To see Joseph Kosinski interact with a theatre full of people and feel his presence as if he was actually here, was absolutely fascinating. This is the true power of the technology and it is to provide this kind of experience that we work every day”, says Jorge Graça, CTO.

To create this hologram, NOS was supported by the international company Musion, a specialist in holographic technology, and which has been perfecting this technique over the last few years. Its CV includes work for Gorillaz, Mariah Carey, Dita Von Teese, or even Tupac, at a time when he became famous at the Coachella festival.

This technological project involved more than 120 hours of set up and technical installations, and more than 100 professionals, including the NOS, Musion, Paramount US and Paramount EMEA technical teams.

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ will have its premier on the 26th of May, NOS being the distribution partner of Paramount Pictures in Portugal.

Links: NOS