Web3 and XR technologies are becoming the pillars of the evolution of the web as we know it today, and at Telefónica we’ve been taking major steps over the last two years to facilitate the web of the future.

Since the birth of the Metaverse and Web3 area at Telefónica to lead the strategy for these kinds of projects, we’ve worked on multiple initiatives, developing products and services of different natures that have reached different stages of implementation, including consumer experiences in virtual reality scenarios that are easier to understand and imagine, new crypto-based economic and incentive models and, the most intangible aspect, the evolution of network security thanks to Web3. However, wherever there’s a common axis, the capabilities offered by Telefónica for the development of these new models and experiences are to be found.

Would you like to learn more about the innovations that we’ve been working on over the past year, as explained by Yaiza Rubio and Daniel Hernández during their talk titled “Find out how Telefónica is becoming a Web3 and XR enabler” held at Telefónica’s stand at MWC24?

Web3 technology

The launch of Telefónica’s pilot with NovaLabs in Mexico, whereby the mobile hotspots on the Helium network will extend Telefónica’s coverage and download mobile data traffic onto the Helium network, reducing not only infrastructure costs but also the environmental impact. During his session, Daniel Hernández, VP Devices & Consumer IoT, endorsed this innovation-laden initiative when he declared that “What we want to do is deploy networks in a more efficient way. We want a new way of deploying coverage.”

Telefónica as a key validator on the Celo network, contributing to the decentralisation of the networks by validating transactions, ensuring network consensus, aiding stability and maintaining the security of the blockchain.

The integration of Chainlink to enhance Web3 security with GSMA Open Gateway. This is a partnership that will facilitate the secure connection of Web3 smart contracts to other GSMA Open Gateway APIs. It’s an integration that will improve the blockchain’s security and privacy compliance for the development of secure and reliable apps. The session at MWC24 featured Max Melcher, Lead Product Manager at Chainlink Labs, who explained to all the attendees how we’re redefining blockchain transactions. In particular, he referred to Open Gateway’s SIM Swap API focusing on anti-fraud services.

Tokens

One example is the Smart Mobile service, a function that improves mobile connections and optimises performance to ensure the very best streams, available thanks to tokens, the incentive received by customers in the loyalty programme (Mi Movistar tokens) that allows them to access products and services to reward their loyalty.

Another is the possibility of building a greener future through digitisation, whereby the Offset your footprint Living App can allocate tokens to different environmental projects to help to combat climate change and encourage self-criticism through analysis of the CO2 footprint.

Meanwhile, wallets are the basic tool for entering the Web3 world for ordinary people and, at the same time, a major barrier to entry. Technological innovation improves when it’s accompanied by an H2H value proposition, as is the case of a product soon to be launched as TU Wallet, with its security and simplicity allowing us to make the crypto world more accessible. Dani Hernández highlighted its influence on the lives of people and companies when he stated that “the importance of wallets in the Web3 ecosystem is fairly significant”.

XR technologies

Enjoy sport in a fully immersive way thanks to the new Smart Connect VR function available in Movistar Immersive Experience for the Oculus Quests. Ensuring the best Wi-Fi connection by means of Open Gateway’s QoD Wi-Fi API for a multi-camera experience thanks to YBVR Arena technology, allowing viewers to immersively relive the ACB King’s Cup competition at the Martín Carpena stadium in Málaga, enjoying the thrill of every pass as if they were sitting beside the court.

Immersion in Movistar Series Originals, flowing beyond the screen. It enables us, as fans, through both VR and AR, to explore the gym of “The Immortal”, train with the punch bags and enjoy the content of season 2 released on 22 February.

Enriching events. Generating a virtual replica of the physical stand at the Mobile World Congress in Telefónica’s Innovation and Talent Hub, where, through the Spatial platform, people can, via any device, participate, experience and enjoy all the information and the talks that are held at the MWC.

Challenging training. The innovation available to employees whereby, via the Microsoft Mesh platform, Universitas, Telefónica’s university, makes the training immersive, establishing the beginning of new training formats by means of which people participate, learn and interact with each other.

Complementing space. To enrich the visit to Distrito Telefónica as the epicentre of the Innovation and Talent Hub, we’ve created Distrito AR, with augmented reality experiences that provide a deeper understanding of the company’s core values through action: Transformation, Talent, Transcendence, Telecommunications and Technology, available by simply scanning the QR code with a mobile phone.

Making remote connections more human by means of a holographic presence. Whereby Telefónica participates as an enabler of holographic communications based on volumetric capture.

Supporting the XR innovation ecosystem, who it is Alaian’s partnership with the world’s leading telcos, including Telefónica, in partnership with Qualcomm, whereby startups will have access to the telcos’ resources enabling them to speed up their growth and propose disruptive extended reality solutions.

Bridging the digital divide through accessibility. Thanks, in this case, to two major partnerships. With ONCE, by evaluating our VR services, but also by co-creating and critiquing the technologies with the ultimate goal of turning the technological capacity of XR and AI into a useful everyday tool for all people. And with META, to promote virtual reality among the elderly through user-friendly content suited to their needs. Yaiza Rubio, Chief Metaverse Officer, rounded off the session by emphasising Telefónica’s stance when it comes to making the Metaverse accessible to all publics. She stated that “what we want to do is design for everyone, not just for a particular public. We have to make the experiences accessible to everyone”.

As well as numerous other projects and initiatives that are still in their very early stages, ones we hope will begin to see the light of day in 2024. We believe that Web3 and XR technologies are going to define the web of the future and that Telefónica is key to making this happen by maintaining its commitment to the human factor. This is why we share the words of our chairman, José María Álvarez-Pallete: “technology has no limits, but it must be based on principles”.