Mobile Metaverse

Description

The Mobile Metaverse is a concept introduced in 3GPP Release 19 that defines the user experience enabled by the 5G system for interactive and/or immersive extended reality (XR) media, including haptic media. It represents a significant evolution beyond traditional mobile broadband services, aiming to deliver fully immersive, multi-sensory experiences over 5G networks. The Mobile Metaverse is not a single technology but rather an umbrella term for a class of services that combine audio, video, XR (including haptic) media, and data from which media can be constructed, such as point clouds. These services are characterized by high interactivity, low latency, and high data rates, requiring enhancements to the 5G system to support them effectively.

Architecturally, the Mobile Metaverse leverages the 5G system's capabilities, including enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC), and massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC). It involves the interaction between user equipment (UE), the 5G network, and application servers, known as mobile metaverse servers. The 5G system provides the necessary quality of service (QoS) and network slicing to ensure the required performance for different metaverse applications. Key components include the 5G core network (5GC), which handles session management, QoS, and policy control, and the radio access network (NG-RAN), which provides the wireless connectivity. The Mobile Metaverse also relies on edge computing to reduce latency by processing data closer to the user.

How it works: When a user accesses a mobile metaverse service, the UE establishes a connection to a mobile metaverse server via the 5G system. The server hosts the application logic and media processing. The 5G system ensures that the data streams (e.g., video, audio, haptic feedback) are delivered with the required QoS. This may involve multiple simultaneous data flows with different characteristics. For example, video might require high bandwidth, while haptic feedback requires ultra-low latency and high reliability. The 5G system uses QoS flows and network slicing to manage these diverse requirements. Additionally, the Mobile Metaverse may involve edge computing to offload processing from the UE and reduce latency. The 3GPP specifications 22.156 and 22.856 define the service requirements and architecture for the Mobile Metaverse.

The Mobile Metaverse is expected to enable a wide range of applications, including immersive gaming, virtual meetings, remote collaboration, telepresence, and training simulations. These applications require a seamless integration of multiple media types and real-time interaction. The 5G system's ability to provide high data rates, low latency, and high reliability is crucial for delivering a satisfactory user experience. Furthermore, the Mobile Metaverse may involve multiple users interacting in a shared virtual space, requiring synchronization and multi-user support. The 3GPP work on the Mobile Metaverse aims to standardize the enablers for such services, ensuring interoperability and consistent quality.

In summary, the Mobile Metaverse is a Rel-19 concept that defines the user experience of interactive and immersive XR media over 5G. It encompasses a variety of media types and requires enhancements to the 5G system to support high-performance, multi-sensory applications. The 3GPP specifications provide the framework for delivering these services, leveraging the capabilities of 5G to create new immersive experiences.

Purpose & Motivation

The Mobile Metaverse exists to define and standardize the delivery of immersive, interactive experiences over 5G networks. Prior to Rel-19, 3GPP had already defined support for XR and media services, but the concept of a 'metaverse'—a persistent, shared, immersive virtual space—required a more holistic approach. The Mobile Metaverse addresses the need for a unified framework that can handle multiple media types (audio, video, haptic) and data formats (point clouds) with varying QoS requirements. It solves the problem of fragmented service definitions by providing a common terminology and set of requirements for immersive services.

The motivation for the Mobile Metaverse comes from the growing interest in virtual and augmented reality applications, which demand high bandwidth, low latency, and high reliability. Traditional mobile networks were not designed for such demanding, interactive experiences. The Mobile Metaverse leverages 5G's advanced features, such as network slicing, edge computing, and QoS frameworks, to meet these demands. It also enables new business models and use cases, such as virtual events, remote collaboration, and immersive gaming, which can drive revenue for operators.

Historically, 3GPP has evolved its support for media services from basic voice and video to rich multimedia. The Mobile Metaverse represents the next step, integrating multiple sensory modalities and enabling real-time interaction in shared virtual environments. It builds on previous work on XR, such as the 5G XR and media services in Rel-17 and Rel-18, but extends it to include haptic feedback and point cloud data. The Mobile Metaverse is thus a natural progression in the evolution of mobile services, aiming to provide a truly immersive experience.