78% of business professionals are interested in exploring the metaverse, says study

The metaverse has been the subject of contention within the business world for the past few years. People have always debated its necessity due to its reliability and security. 
However, a report commissioned by telecommunications provider Ciena showed that 78% of 15,000 business professionals across the globe are interested in participating in this innovation. For them, the metaverse is more immersive than simple videoconferencing, especially during remote meetings.
Steve Alexander, Chief Technology Officer CTO of Ciena, said the pandemic and the shift to work-from-home (WFH) arrangements drove everyone’s willingness to enter the metaverse.
But if current teleconferencing solutions have provided the convenience many of us are happy with, why are people so willing to dive further into the metaverse?
Beyond 2D remote meetings
The metaverse is a refreshing improvement in the business world. It merges in-person interaction and teleconferencing to create a virtual environment where everyone can meet without having to be in the same location.
It also allows people to select an avatar to use while within the virtual world — offering people a choice on how they interact and present themselves to others. As Ciena’s Alexander said, the metaverse turns a 2D environment into a 360-degree virtual space that offers limitless possibilities. 
The importance of bandwidth
For the metaverse to be a viable option, bandwidth needs to be consistent and it should enable large amounts of traffic to traverse wide area networks quickly while minimizing latency. Otherwise, this immersive world would not be enough for mission-critical use.
However, 38% of respondents in Ciena’s report expressed concerns that their current networks would not be able to handle the additional burden. Their problem is well-founded, especially now that networks are expected to handle a lot of remote workers.
Service providers are ready for tomorrow’s demands
Fortunately, service providers are already anticipating the additional needs of a metaverse workplace. They are increasingly enhancing their networks with automation and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, enabled by the combination of analytics and programmable software capabilities that make them adaptive.
Furthermore, network operators are likewise investing increasingly in creating easy access to edge computing capabilities to reduce network latency and improve reliability in the network’s edges.
Alexander noted that while business professionals may be concerned about the reliability of the networks they depend on, their pessimism may be misplaced as service providers anticipate the needs of tomorrow’s networks. 
And as everyone’s worries about the metaverse gradually fade, it will be replaced by a virtual world where everyone meets anyone through their chosen avatars. How about you? Are you excited for your workplace to shift into the metaverse?
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