Verizon sets 5G partnerships with NFL, New York's Met art museum and UPS

By Supantha Mukherjee

(Reuters) - Delivery drones, virtual art exhibits and U.S. football games will headline Verizon Communications Inc's announcements on Monday at the annual consumer electronics tradeshow CES as it shows off 5G technology partnerships with the National Football League (NFL), the Metropolitan Museum of Art and UPS.

The U.S. wireless carrier said its 5G service will be available in 28 NFL stadiums by the end of the year and fans could use certain 5G devices to view a game with up to seven different camera angles, along with other augmented reality features.

"We will work with all the biggest sports leagues in the world... for using 5G for fans and the teams," Chief Executive Officer Hans Vestberg said on a call with reporters on Sunday.

The partnership with the Met features digitally rendered galleries and nearly 50 works of art from across The Met's collection. Verizon, which is rolling out 5G services across the United States, said its Skyward unit is testing delivery of retail products with drones along with partner the United Parcel Service.

The services will be widely available in a year or two and needs approval of the Federal Aviation Administration as it would be commercial traffic, Vestberg said. "We can coordinate hundreds and thousands of drones at the same time," he said.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukerjee; Editing by David Gregorio)