As mobile operators deploy 5G networks, it's vital that they prepare for the disruptive impact that cloud gaming could pose. According to mobile operator executives attending Openwave Mobility's Mobile Video Industry Council [1] (MOVIC) Livecast, most operators believe that cloud gaming could represent 25% to 50% of 5G data traffic by 2022, based on the rapid progression of cloud gaming services in recent months. That was one of the major findings from the online event held yesterday with over 50 operators in attendance including Vodafone, Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Verizon, AT&T and Telefonica. Analysts from Analysys Mason, Strategy Analytics and ABI Research also contributed their own research to the event.

5G networks will support cloud game streaming, enabling consumers to play digital games on their handsets without the need to own or install a copy of the game. These subscription-based services will give consumers access to a high-end gaming experience without requiring additional hardware.

"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," said John Giere, President and CEO of Openwave Mobility. "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."

MOVIC was set up as a forum for mobile operator personnel to share data, best practice and strategies with their peers, relating to the growth of mobile video and other emerging forms of mobile traffic. The events have attracted senior technical and business executives from many of the world's largest mobile operators. The next MOVIC meeting will follow in the Autumn of 2019.

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ABOUT OPENWAVE MOBILITY
Openwave Mobility [2], an Enea company, empowers mobile operators to manage and monetize encrypted traffic. Based on the industry's most scalable NFV platform [3], our solutions alleviate RAN congestion, create new revenue opportunities and unify subscriber data. The company provides solutions for mobile video traffic management [4], cloud data management [5] and targeted promotions [6]

 ABOUT ENEA

Enea develops the software foundation for the connected society. We provide solutions for mobile traffic optimization, subscriber data management, network virtualization, traffic classification, embedded operating systems, and professional services. Solution vendors, systems integrators, and service providers use Enea to create new world-leading networking products and services. More than 3 billion people around the globe already rely on Enea technologies in their daily lives. Enea is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For more information: www.enea.com [7]