It’s Only Common Sense: Customers Capabilities—and Confidence
Marcy’s Musings: Operating Without a Rulebook
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘The 'NVIDIA Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant’
Cloud VR to Drive High Capacity, Low Latency Wireless Connectivity in VR Devices
October 25, 2017 | ABI ResearchEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Virtual Reality (VR) has been growing at a rapid rate with the continuous advancements in VR head mounted displays (HMDs), tracking systems, and controllers. Connectivity is another area where VR HMD makers are unceasingly trying to improve. Wireless connectivity is increasingly important for VR users to have better experience. ABI Research, a leader in emerging technology intelligence, forecasts that almost 84% of tethered VR HMDs will have wireless connectivity using WiGig in 2022.
The most important requirement of using a VR device is immersive experience. A wired connection between tethered VR HMD and PC’s or consoles can restrict the freedom of movement for users, which limits the level of immersion. Although mobile and standalone devices run without the need of a cable connection, processing power is limited compared to tethered VR devices. Hardware makers such as TPCast, DisplayLink and KwikVR have introduced wireless add-ons that enable wireless connectivity between tethered VR HMD and PC’s or consoles, however, wireless add-ons are a bit bulky to fit on VR HMD and are usually expensive, costing around US$300. Chipset makers including Intel, Qualcomm, and Peraso are working together with hardware makers to add wireless connectivity using WiGig in tethered VR devices.
Development of Cloud VR applications are expected to be another driver of wireless connectivity in VR HMDs. A recent announcement of HTC partnering with Dalian Television and Beijing Cyber Cloud to test cloud VR service highlights the potential of Cloud VR services. Rendering is done in cloud servers which allows users to access VR applications from anywhere. Cloud VR provides users with full mobility and potentially allows the development of slimmer VR HMDs. “However, a high data rate and low latency connectivity are required for Cloud VR applications. WiGig which can provide up to 7 Gbps connectivity will play important role to support high bandwidth applications for indoor use. High capacity, low latency 5G networks will be essential for deployment of Cloud VR applications for mobile and standalone VR devices,” notes Khin Sandi Lynn, industry analyst at ABI Research.
ABI Research forecasts that 5G connectivity will be available in VR HMD starting from 2020 and over 2.6 million VR HMDs will support 5G connectivity in 2022.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Advertising in PCB007 Magazine has been a great way to showcase our bare board testers to the right audience. The I-Connect007 team makes the process smooth and professional. We’re proud to be featured in such a trusted publication."
Klaus Koziol - atgSuggested Items
Podcast Episode 2—AI Is Changing the Rules: Are Your PCB Materials Ready?
03/10/2026 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 announces the release of the second episode in its new six-part podcast series, PCB Materials: The Backbone and Future of Electronics. In “5G, AI & Beyond—Designing for High-Speed Performance,” we explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of electronics design, demanding unprecedented speed, power, and high-frequency performance that push beyond the limits of traditional materials. As AI applications scale rapidly, are yesterday’s materials becoming obsolete?
STMicroelectronics Completes Acquisition of NXP’s MEMS Business
02/03/2026 | STMicroelectronicsSTMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, completed the acquisition of NXP Semiconductors’ (NASDAQ: NXPI) MEMS sensors business.
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Navigating Changes in the EMEA Market—Insights from Ventec Experts
12/10/2025 | Real Time with...productronicaVentec's Mark Goodwin and Pesh Patel explore the EMEA market's structural changes, including Panasonic's factory closure and its effects on laminators. They discuss the transition to low DK glass and the influence of the AI boom. Mark highlights the need for effective inventory management, while Pesh presents the glass-free revolution, showcasing new materials and resin technologies that improve performance and expand applications beyond traditional circuit boards.
Real Time with... productronica 2025: Enhancing Manufacturing With Conformal Coatings From MacDermid Alpha
12/04/2025 | Real Time with...productronicaSaskia Hogan, global product manager for conformal coatings at MacDermid Alpha Electronics Solutions, discusses the role of coatings in improving manufacturing efficiency and sustainability. She addresses challenges faced by customers, such as harsher environments and cost pressures, while emphasizing the need for high reliability in critical applications.
On the Line With… American Standard Circuits: Ultra HDI Releases Episode 10
12/03/2025 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce the release of Episode 10 of On the Line With… American Standard Circuits: Ultra HDI. In this episode, host Nolan Johnson sits down with John Johnson of American Standard Circuits for a forward-looking discussion on how Ultra High Density Interconnect (UHDI) technology is reshaping some of the most demanding applications in the medical electronics space.