Disney StudioLAB and T-Mobile Form ‘Innovation Partnership’

BELLEVUE, Wash. and LOS ANGELES — Disney’s StudioLAB and T-Mobile are working together to “advance storytelling” with 5G.

StudioLAB, a division of The Walt Disney Studios, and T-Mobile entered a five-year “innovation partnership,” according to T-Mobile last month. 

The partnership between T-Mobile and StudioLAB is intended to explore emerging technologies for consumers, such as virtual presence, mixed reality (MR), and immersive experiences. 

T-Mobile will collaborate with StudioLAB on ways to improve content production and test forms of immersive experiences for consumers, using its nationwide 5G network.

The partners also plan to use T-Mobile Ultra Capacity 5G to test more efficient ways to capture, produce, and distribute content, from both a studio and remote locations. 

For instance, studio teams may use wireless technology to remotely scout a movie location or improve how video content is transferred in real-time from remote locations to the cloud.  

StudioLAB is home to an “advanced development team” focused on innovation in creative technologies.

StudioLAB’s other innovation partners include Accenture, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Microsoft, LG Display, and Salesforce.

“Disney has been at the heart of storytelling for generations,” said Neville Ray, president of technology, T-Mobile. 

“And that’s why the T-Mobile team is excited they chose to work with us on 5G innovation.” 

The partners will use T-Mobile’s 5G network to “spark new innovations aimed at transforming how entertainment can be produced and experienced,” Ray said.

Jamie Voris, CTO at Walt Disney Studios, said the studio is “just getting started, and the possibilities are endless for how 5G can infuse new magic into the entertainment business.”

Voris said partnering with T-Mobile “opens up incredible opportunities to use 5G to radically change many aspects of the industry.”