Metaverse adoption by business and industry is being held back by concerns over network reliability and infrastructure issues.
Metaverse technologies and applications will become an increasing reality but current enthusiasm is tempered by concerns over core infrastructure issues.
“The metaverse has been a hot topic this year and while many businesses are still navigating how it will work in practice there is overwhelming appetite to embrace more immersive collaboration environments,” said Mark Burton, managing director UK & Western Europe at Ciena.
“We recently commissioned a study looking at business professionals’ views on the metaverse as a potential business platform. The survey found that 71 per cent of professionals around the globe see the metaverse becoming part of their existing work practices. However, the survey also found that the top item holding businesses back (38 per cent) is the concern around having a reliable network.
“The metaverse will bring with it an eruption in network demand, driven by users wanting the ability to access the cloud and consume high-definition immersive content, video and applications more frequently and for longer periods of time. So, if we are to give businesses every chance to embrace the metaverse and see its success, it is critical that we take steps to prepare the underlying telecom networks.
“Our service provider customers are well aware of this and already testing out different use cases. And, while there is still a lot of speculation around what the metaverse is or could be, service providers know that none of the exciting use cases can be achieved without a robust underlying network, laced with the latest and greatest technologies that support the ultra-low latency and high bandwidth that these immersive platforms require.”
The Industrial Metaverse consists of four layers: Firstly, the Core Transaction Layer builds the infrastructural backbone. This generates and transports the input necessary to build an accurate representation of what happens in the real world. This underlying infrastructure is not meant to be replaced, but much rather will its specialised components become connected in an overarching way to form the basis for the Industrial Metaverse.
Secondly, the Data & Integration Layer stores data and maintains relationships across data sources to ensure domain interoperability, thereby ensuring real-time connectivity between all relevant components and avoiding siloed data streams.
Thirdly, the Visualisation & Intelligence Layer consists of smart algorithms and software to create virtual 3D environments. This serves as a basis for sophisticated simulations of processes and products.
Lastly, the Interaction & Experience layer will enable users to interact with the generated content through traditional interfaces such as screens and computer mice, but also via immersive technologies such as Augmented and Virtual Reality.
Paul Ceely, director of technology strategy at Digital Catapult, also sees infrastructure issues as a potential barrier to widespread adoption of metaverse technologies. “Blending the physical and virtual worlds, the industrial metaverse requires the development of a ‘cyber physical’ infrastructure to accommodate a whole host of technologies,” Ceely says.
“Part of our work at Digital Catapult involves us looking at how to bring these technologies together into a common platform; a transformational advanced digital infrastructure to accelerate innovation.
“Industrial environments are typically made up of products from multiple vendors, but what we need is open and interoperable cyber physical infrastructure on which various applications and solutions can be used.
“If the industrial metaverse is expected to be a comprehensive solution across a multi-vendor industrial environment, it brings with it a level of integration and interoperability beyond a single digital twin; what we need is cyber physical infrastructure that brings together multiple digital twins and immersive experiences.”
