ZTE 5G Drives the Next Generation of Cultural Tourism with 5G-A and Film-Grade VR Experiences

ZTE 5G is shaping the future of digital cultural engagement with the integration of advanced 5G-A (5G-Advanced) technology and immersive virtual reality.

In partnership with China Unicom Hubei Branch, 2:10AMculturalCommunication, and the Hubei Provincial Museum, ZTE has launched a groundbreaking Location-Based Virtual Reality (LBVR) project titled “Traversing the Bronze Age.”

This initiative highlights the growing role of telecommunications infrastructure in redefining traditional tourism and cultural heritage access.

With ZTE’s EasyOn·Meta solution at its core, the project represents a comprehensive application of 5G-A capabilities.

It not only addresses existing limitations in virtual reality but also creates scalable frameworks for future industry development.

How ZTE’s 5G-A Redefines LBVR Experiences

The 5G-A technology addresses the longstanding performance bottlenecks associated with LBVR setups. Traditionally, such systems depend on either backpack rendering or standalone headsets, each with critical limitations.

Overcoming Traditional VR Constraints

Backpack-based systems, while offering stronger rendering, introduce user fatigue due to weight, poor heat management, and limited battery life.

On the other hand, all-in-one headsets, though convenient, often deliver subpar visual performance due to restricted processing power.

Additionally, relying on Wi-Fi introduces spectrum interference and user caps, typically maxing out at eight participants.

5G-A Indoor Base Station Deployment

To address the persistent issues, ZTE and its partners deployed 5G-A indoor base stations at the Hubei Provincial Museum.

These base stations deliver wide-area, high-speed connectivity with ultra-low latency. The deployment is further enhanced by intelligent beam joint management, ensuring consistent performance for users in motion.

The application of ZTE’s EasyOn·Meta solution begins with the deployment of indoor 5G-A base stations. This establishes a fast, low-latency network environment.

Intelligent beam joint management further ensures uninterrupted performance, enabling full mobility for users wearing lightweight headsets. 

The setup supports up to 100 concurrent users in a 600-square-meter venue. This shift to a “backpack-free” configuration transforms the visitor experience by reducing physical strain and improving immersion.

Terminal-Edge Architecture: Real-Time Performance at Scale

ZTE’s 5G-A LBVR model is anchored in a terminal-edge collaborative architecture. This approach distributes computing power efficiently between the user’s terminal device and the edge cloud.

Edge Rendering for Film-Grade VR

The 5G-A air interface provides reliable transmission, which supports dynamic rendering at the edge. This allows for ultra-high-definition visuals at 4K resolution and 90 frames per second with latency in the millisecond range.

The result is a highly fluid and deeply immersive experience that meets the expectations of a cinematic VR production.

Multi-Platform VR Content Integration

One significant outcome of this architecture is the ability to unify VR content from multiple platforms. Traditional systems often require labor-intensive adaptations across hardware and software ecosystems.

ZTE’s 5G-A solution reduces these barriers to enable rapid deployment and scalable operations across diverse venues.

Real-World Implementation: Hubei Provincial Museum

The Hubei Provincial Museum provides a real-world validation of the LBVR experience powered by ZTE 5G.

During the 2025 May Day holiday, the museum recorded 132,500 visitors, a 20.17% year-on-year increase. Thousands of these guests experienced the “Traversing the Bronze Age“ digital exhibition.

Cultural Artifacts in High Fidelity

This immersive VR journey allows visitors to explore intricate artifacts from the Bronze Age, traditionally kept behind glass or inaccessible due to fragility.

Through high-resolution VR, audiences engage with cultural assets at unprecedented levels of detail and interactivity.

By digitizing these relics and presenting them in immersive environments, the museum overcomes physical limitations such as space, preservation concerns, and location access. This model effectively broadens cultural outreach and visitor engagement.

ZTE EasyOn·Meta Solution: Commercial Viability and Operational Benefits

The commercial deployment of ZTE’s EasyOn·Meta solution highlights the intersection of telecommunications and cultural tourism.

The EasyOn·Meta framework is not just a technical showcase; it lays the groundwork for scalable deployment in museums, theme parks, and other public venues.

The performance attributes of 5G-A especially multi-user support, real-time responsiveness, and centralized content rendering create new revenue possibilities.

Cultural institutions and tourism operators can build hybrid onsite-offsite offerings, integrate gamification, and collaborate on shared IP ecosystems for digital exhibitions.

ZTE 5G Shapes the Future of Digital Cultural Tourism

ZTE 5G’s strategic entry into cultural tourism reflects a broader trend: the fusion of telecommunications infrastructure with vertical industries.

As 5G-A networks reach maturity, their potential applications extend beyond technical use cases into public engagement, education, and heritage preservation.

The success of the Hubei project validates a repeatable implementation model. With simplified content integration and improved user experience, institutions across China and globally can replicate the solution.

Municipal cultural bureaus, tourism authorities, and private operators stand to benefit from a proven operational strategy backed by technological assurance.

ZTE’s work also plays a role in reshaping how cultural IP is managed, shared, and monetized.

Virtualization not only safeguards relics from degradation but also creates opportunities for derivative content, licensing, and digital distribution.

What This Means for the Broader Industry

The convergence of ZTE 5G-A and cultural engagement demonstrates how network capabilities are becoming integral to public-facing applications.

By providing the infrastructure for immersive content delivery, ZTE is contributing to a shift in how people interact with history and culture.

From an industry perspective, this project offers a reference point for telecom operators seeking to expand into value-added services beyond conventional mobile data.

It also serves as a template for museums and cultural institutions planning long-term digital strategies.

Conclusion

The launch of the “Traversing the Bronze Age” project marks a significant milestone in the integration of ZTE 5G-A with cultural tourism.

With its advanced network design, scalable deployment, and immersive capabilities, this project presents a compelling model for digital transformation in heritage preservation and public engagement.

ZTE, together with China Unicom and its institutional partners, has demonstrated how 5G-A can move from technical promise to high-impact real-world implementation.

As the industry looks ahead, this collaboration sets a benchmark for how telecommunications can support meaningful, scalable, and user-focused applications across emerging verticals.

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