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T-Mobile delivers a 5G slice for Disney Studios StudioLAB

T-Mobile US has partnered with Disney Studios' StudioLAB to deploy a dedicated 5G network slice designed to accelerate creative workflows and reimagine the future of film production. This collaboration brings together the technological backbone of T-Mobile’s 5G Advanced Network Solutions with the forward-thinking environment of StudioLAB, Disney’s internal innovation incubator.

As content demand surges and production timelines tighten, 5G's ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and enhanced reliability take center stage. In the dynamic media and entertainment sector, real-time collaboration, cloud workflows, and next-gen content creation tools depend on seamless, robust connectivity.

By leveraging network slicing—a feature that creates isolated, customizable networks on shared 5G infrastructure—this initiative sets a new precedent for tailored enterprise connectivity. It’s not just an upgrade in speed; it’s a shift in how studios like Disney can control and optimize their networked environments to support modern production pipelines.

Unlocking the Power of 5G Network Slicing in Media and Entertainment

What Makes 5G Network Slicing Different?

5G network slicing creates multiple virtual networks on a shared physical 5G infrastructure. Each slice behaves like a dedicated network, independently optimized for specific performance requirements. This segmentation enables tailored services without the need for unique hardware buildouts across regions or use cases.

In technical terms, slicing abstracts resources from the underlying network architecture — bandwidth, processing power, storage — and allocates them to suit the specific needs of an application or enterprise. Whether it's high throughput for real-time video rendering or ultra-low latency for remote camera control, each slice delivers defined performance parameters with consistency.

Why Media Companies Rely on Slice Customization

Media production workflows thrive on predictability and quality of service. 5G network slicing addresses this by enabling:

Off-the-shelf networks aren’t built for the pressures of streaming large volumes of high-resolution footage or supporting interactive digital twins in a production environment. Slicing strips away general-purpose infrastructure limits and plugs in the exact capabilities needed by studios, both on location and in post-production.

Enterprise-Grade Slices for Entertainment Applications

Studios experimenting with virtual production, volumetric video, and AI-powered editing see immediate gains from network slicing. Traditional setups often require on-premise compute and connectivity. With 5G slicing, companies shift to leaner workflows — leveraging off-site processing, simplified setup, and faster iteration cycles.

For large-scale media enterprises, managing multiple projects across distributed teams becomes less constrained by physical bottlenecks. Slices scale based on workload, integrate with edge computing nodes, and support secure, partitioned access for different collaborators or vendors.

Want to build an AR experience streaming in real time directly from a live event? Or perhaps synchronize VFX rendering while filming on location? Dedicated 5G slices will support both, over the same infrastructure, without interference or traffic congestion.

T-Mobile’s Custom 5G Architecture: Powering Next-Gen Media Solutions

Enterprise-Grade Connectivity Tailored for Innovation

T-Mobile US continues to position itself as a cornerstone in the evolution of enterprise connectivity through 5G. With an aggressive rollout strategy and a firm focus on network slicing, T-Mobile delivers more than general consumer coverage—it builds custom connectivity frameworks. By leveraging standalone (SA) 5G architecture, the company enables dedicated network slices, offering businesses like Disney Studios StudioLAB isolated, high-performance mobile networks with guaranteed latency, throughput, and capacity.

Capabilities Built on a Layered Technological Edge

The key advantage stems from T-Mobile's exclusive use of dedicated mid-band 5G spectrum (2.5 GHz), which offers optimal balance between speed and coverage. Unlike non-standalone (NSA) deployments that lean on existing LTE infrastructure, T-Mobile’s SA 5G allows granular control over each slice of the network.

This architecture makes it possible to fine-tune performance for critical workflows—streaming raw 8K footage, live rendering via cloud GPUs, or syncing AR/VR overlays during pre-visualization.

Nationwide Reach, Local Precision

As of Q1 2024, T-Mobile maintains the largest 5G network footprint in the U.S., covering over 330 million people with mid-band Ultra Capacity 5G and more than 300 million with Extended Range 5G, according to company filings and confirmed by Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence. This expansive reach allows T-Mobile to offer geographically dispersed enterprises unified 5G performance, while still customizing slices for select sites like Disney’s StudioLAB in Burbank.

For media production houses where split-second timing and massive data throughput define the creative process, this kind of targeted, high-performance connectivity unlocks new operational agility. T-Mobile doesn't just provide a network—it enables a production-layer infrastructure capable of meeting next-generation demands.

Disney Studios StudioLAB: A Hub of Technological Innovation

Disney Studios StudioLAB operates as an internal innovation incubator housed on The Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. This initiative brings together creative storytellers, technologists, and partners to prototype and pilot new tools and techniques that transform how films and TV shows are made. At its core, StudioLAB functions as a testing ground where the boundaries of entertainment production are continually pushed forward by integrating emerging technologies into Disney's global content pipeline.

Backed by studio leadership and powered by collaborations with companies such as Accenture, Cisco, and now T-Mobile, StudioLAB focuses exclusively on future-ready workflows. These include areas ranging from real-time rendering and AI-assisted editing to volumetric capture and immersive storytelling formats like AR and VR. The goal remains constant: experiment today to establish the practices of tomorrow.

Examples of Innovation in Action

Driving Toward Real-Time Content Creation

StudioLAB is aligned with a broader shift in the entertainment industry toward real-time, adaptive filmmaking practices. By investing in infrastructure that can support iterative storytelling—where filmmakers tweak settings, effects, or even character movements instantaneously—Disney positions itself to unlock creative possibilities previously constrained by technical limitations.

These initiatives show clear intent: Disney isn't simply exploring what's possible; it's actively recalibrating the future of media production. The partnership with T-Mobile to deliver a dedicated 5G slice fits squarely within this vision, enabling ultra-responsive workflows that match the studio's appetite for speed, fidelity, and immersive experience.

The 5G Slice Delivered: T-Mobile’s Custom Network for Disney

Deploying 5G to the Studio Lot

In Hollywood, California, inside the innovation hub of Disney Studios StudioLAB, T-Mobile activated a dedicated 5G network slice—the first of its kind tailored to creative media workflows. This isn’t a retail 5G signal; it’s a private, customizable segment of T-Mobile’s 5G standalone (SA) core. Its configuration zeroes in on the specific networking demands of film production teams, enabling efficient collaboration between camera operators, editors, VFX supervisors, and directors—all in real-time.

Purpose-Built Network Features

The network slice constructed for StudioLAB doesn’t mirror any generic system. T-Mobile engineers defined priority parameters based on extensive consultations with Walt Disney Studios’ production technologists. These parameters included:

Engineered for a Creative Workflow

The 5G slice isolates production traffic from any public or shared network congestion. That means when StudioLAB streams an 8K camera feed to a virtual set designer across the country, no external traffic competes for bandwidth. Moreover, technical directors can manage this dedicated slice dynamically—scaling network resources during intense production bursts, then throttling down when usage wanes.

Infrastructure Aligned with Studio Needs

T-Mobile deployed network antennas and small cells directly onto the StudioLAB campus to maintain a tightly controlled environment. Edge computing nodes were positioned locally (explored in detail in section 7), further sharpening response times for data-intensive workflows. This configuration eliminates traditional studio networking constraints and breaks down the physical barriers between set, post-production bay, and digital asset management tools.

Real-Time Creativity Unleashed: How 5G Is Reshaping On-Site Media Production

Instant Media Transfer for Faster Editing Cycles

Disney Studios StudioLAB now transfers high-resolution RAW and 4K footage in real time thanks to the 5G slice delivered by T-Mobile. Latency remains under 10 milliseconds, which allows camera feeds to stream directly into editing bays as scenes are shot. No more lengthy data offloading or multi-hour transfers — footage arrives before a take has even wrapped.

RAW files captured by cinema cameras, often exceeding 200 Mbps for a single feed, can move wirelessly from set to server without downsampling. Editors begin assembling a rough cut within minutes of a shoot, compressing post-production cycles that used to span days into just a few hours.

Seamless Collaboration on and off Set

5G slicing isolates a portion of the network for Disney's exclusive use. With that dedicated bandwidth, production teams communicate in near real-time, even across geographic distances. Directors on location, editors in Burbank, and VFX supervisors working remotely operate on the same synchronized pipeline.

This cross-functional responsiveness cuts out delays common in multi-location shoots, aligning creative vision across roles and continents.

Powering Immersive, Virtual Production at Full Bandwidth

Inside Disney’s virtual production environments, latency can’t afford to lag behind imagination. Using T-Mobile’s ultra-reliable 5G slice, StudioLAB drives real-time rendering for LED volume stages, virtual set extensions, and camera tracking systems with sub-20 ms responsiveness across the board.

Augmented reality overlays anchor accurately on physical actors during rehearsal, thanks to stable uplink speeds approaching 100 Mbps. At the same time, virtual cameras sync to physical movement on set, generating in-camera visual effects without delay. Live productions broadcast over this same slice maintain crisp, uninterrupted 4K streams directly to distribution partners — no separate satellite truck needed.

By combining robust bandwidth with consistent low-latency performance, the custom 5G network becomes more than infrastructure: it becomes another layer of creative tooling embedded in every step of the storytelling process.

The Role of Edge Computing in the StudioLAB Deployment

Reducing Latency with Edge and 5G Network Slicing

At Disney Studios StudioLAB, edge computing works in tandem with T-Mobile’s customized 5G slice to bring processing power physically closer to where content is created. This architectural shift moves data computation away from centralized cloud environments and into localized nodes, effectively reducing round-trip times for data packets. When milliseconds matter, this setup eliminates bottlenecks that traditionally plague high-bandwidth productions like live rendering or real-time effects integration.

The integration ensures that latency-sensitive operations—especially those requiring real-time feedback—run seamlessly. T-Mobile’s edge infrastructure places similar capabilities once only accessible in high-performance data centers directly at the edge of StudioLAB’s production environment. By bringing the network core into close proximity, response times drop dramatically and workflows remain uninterrupted.

Localized Data Processing Enhances Performance

Thanks to local data processing, creators at StudioLAB no longer rely on remote servers for initial computations. Instead, high-volume video feeds, sensor data from tracking systems, and multi-gigabyte motion capture files are ingested and processed on-site through edge-enabled computing nodes connected to the 5G slice. Edge computing supports rapid file manipulation and distribution without compromising quality or time.

Enabling Responsive Media Applications

Applications like motion capture and volumetric video demand precise synchronization. Even a small delay between sensor input and visual output can impact the realism of performances or the overall accuracy of rendered scenes. By delivering compute functionality within milliseconds of data generation, these edge-powered workflows ensure split-second responsiveness.

Cloud rendering applications also benefit significantly. With edge nodes intercepting rendering calls, the first frames can appear within seconds rather than minutes. Artists preview updates in near-real time, producers iterate quickly, and directors make decisions without the friction of remote processing delays. Want to adjust lighting or switch camera angles mid-scene? The system delivers those changes seamlessly due to data being processed within a few meters of the stage.

This union of 5G slicing and edge computing effectively redefines the boundaries of what can be achieved on a lot or soundstage. StudioLAB, powered by T-Mobile’s infrastructure, no longer waits on technology—it builds on it in real time.

Enterprise Benefits: A New Era of Network Customization

Custom 5G network slicing allows enterprises to operate dedicated channels of connectivity that align precisely with their unique workflows, security requirements, and performance benchmarks. No longer confined to one-size-fits-all infrastructure, companies can now demand and receive tailored bandwidth, latency profiles, and security protocols—all delivered on demand.

In contrast, traditional fixed networks offer limited flexibility. Legacy systems operate on shared bandwidth, relying on static configurations that can't adapt in real-time. During high-traffic events or complex production scenarios, this rigidity leads to bottlenecks, packet loss, and inconsistent quality of service.

5G slicing, however, introduces programmable connectivity. Through software-defined networking, slices are shaped to serve specific operations—such as UHD video transfer, render farm uploads, or synchronized virtual collaboration—without interrupting other business-critical services.

Key Advantages for the Entertainment Industry

This shift gives entertainment companies operational control over network behavior—a concept foreign to pre-5G architectures. How would your studio workflows change if connectivity stopped being a bottleneck and started working like a workflow assistant?

How Telecom and Entertainment Are Building the Future Together

Collaboration at the Crossroads of Connectivity and Creativity

The relationship between telecom providers and entertainment studios has shifted from transactional to transformational. In place of simple bandwidth provisioning, telecoms like T-Mobile now act as foundational partners in digital media innovation. The deployment of a dedicated 5G network slice for Disney Studios StudioLAB illustrates a larger movement—where connectivity drives narrative possibilities, not just data throughput.

Studios increasingly require agile, high-performance infrastructure to meet evolving demands in virtual production, real-time rendering, and cloud-based post-processing. Telecoms deliver those capabilities through technologies like network slicing and mobile edge computing. This fusion allows storytellers, directors, and producers to reimagine what's achievable on set, directly integrating telecom functionality into the storytelling pipeline.

Infrastructure as a Strategic Asset

Digital content creation now depends on more than cameras, software, and cloud services—it relies on programmable networks tuned for performance. For telecoms, this isn't just a new revenue stream; it's a positioning play. By embedding themselves in the workflow of major studios, they gain influence and insight into how content is developed, distributed, and consumed. These network partnerships become part of the IP pipeline, not just the distribution channel.

Consider the economics: according to a report from IDC, global media and entertainment data usage is growing at a CAGR of 26% through 2026. Network slicing enables telecoms to provide differentiated service tiers for audiovisual workloads, solving for congestion, jitter, and frame-drop risks in real time. That translates into fewer production delays and a higher quality final product.

Beyond Hollywood: Where Else Can This Go?

Other industries are beginning to see similar potential. Sports venues are testing 5G slices for broadcast-ready multi-angle streaming directly from field cameras to editing bays. Live events use customized network slices to isolate and prioritize backstage communications, AR experiences, and telepresence feeds. Gaming studios explore slicing for low-latency multiplayer testing across global developer teams.

Each sector tailors its slice, aligning compute and connectivity with specific operational flows. The common denominator: networks are no longer fixed pipelines. They are programmable platforms that adapt to creative and logistical needs in real time.

The Future of Content Creation: Powered by T-Mobile 5G

Redefining the Creative Toolkit with Ultra-Fast 5G

T-Mobile delivers a 5G slice for Disney Studios StudioLAB, and this isn't just another tech deployment—it validates 5G as a foundational element in next-generation content creation. The success of a dedicated, low-latency, and high-throughput network inside StudioLAB shows what happens when connectivity no longer limits creativity.

With a standalone 5G network slice, production crews no longer rely on fixed-line infrastructure or congested shared networks. Directors can preview camera feeds in real time. Editors can push high-resolution assets to cloud storage without bottlenecks. Live rendering, instant dailies, and simultaneous collaboration across creative departments become possible within a single shoot day—something previously unachievable without days of downtime.

Reimagining Workflows: Tools Born in a 5G Environment

5G opens room for an entirely new class of production tools. Wireless camera rigs streaming raw footage in real time. Cloud-based proxies automatically generated and indexed during filming. Instant asset syncing between on-site and remote editors. These aren't future concepts—they're operational realities when ultra-low latency and uniform bandwidth are guaranteed.

These advancements are not theoretical upgrades—they will trickle into daily operations and redefine how studios plan, shoot, edit, and deliver projects.

Looking Ahead: AI, Remote Direction, and Immersive Storytelling

What comes next? Start with AI. With high-speed access to compute power at the edge, AI can handle complex editorial tasks mid-shoot—detecting continuity errors, suggesting alternate angles, or even auto-editing teaser clips for same-day promotional drops. Directors can orchestrate shoots remotely, receiving synchronized camera feeds from multiple sets. Virtual reality (VR) storytelling gains new momentum, supported by real-time asset streaming and responsive environments that are only possible with the speed and stability of a private 5G slice.

Imagine a production environment where virtual characters react live to on-set talent, or viewers interact with narrative elements streamed without lag. With T-Mobile's deployment for Disney, these use cases move from vision decks to active development pipelines. The roadmap for content creation is being redrawn in real time—and the backbone supporting it runs on 5G.

Studio Transformation Reimagined: T-Mobile and Disney Raise the Bar

T-Mobile’s custom 5G slice to Disney Studios StudioLAB reshapes what’s possible in studio production environments. This partnership doesn’t simply showcase progress — it delivers measurable innovation in the form of ultra-low latency, dedicated performance, and real-time content workflows. Designed and deployed within an active studio setting, this initiative stands at the forefront of 5G and telecom integration into the entertainment industry.

Deploying a dedicated 5G slice — specifically engineered for StudioLAB — sets a new milestone in enterprise networking. While traditional networks share public bandwidth and struggle with congestion under heavy load, this 5G slice isolates traffic to guarantee consistent throughput, prioritize production data, and eliminate the performance bottlenecks typical in standard wireless environments. For a dynamic creative hub like Disney Studios StudioLAB, this becomes not just beneficial, but transformational.

Where creative workflows previously depended on tethered systems with lengthy render times and complex data transfer setups, real-time editing, cloud rendering, and on-location streaming now advance without friction. Combine this with T-Mobile’s edge computing integration, and the entire post-production cycle accelerates — from previsualization to delivery.

Want to see innovation in action? Explore behind-the-scenes footage from StudioLAB’s 5G environment and hear firsthand accounts from the teams driving this transformation.

Telecom and entertainment are no longer parallel sectors — they're integrated disciplines. The StudioLAB deployment offers a working model for how dedicated 5G slices can support the future of content creation across broadcast, film, and virtual production environments. As T-Mobile continues expanding enterprise-grade 5G solutions, media studios worldwide now see connectivity not as a backstage function — but as a core production technology.