Japanese telecom giant KDDI plans to offer metaverse services starting around mid-year. Such virtual interactive spaces on the Internet are getting popular.

KDDI says it will show online concerts three-dimensionally in the metaverse in a way that lets users choose any viewing angle.

The technology also lets performing artists create stage effects that are difficult to achieve in actual concerts.

KDDI also plans to recreate apparel shops and other stores in the metaverse. Users will be able to immerse themselves into a 3D shopping experience. They will also be able to buy items.

A deputy manager of business creation at KDDI, Chuman Kazuhiko said: "We are going to change the metaverse from a one-time event to regular use."

He added the company aims to post more than 700 million dollars in metaverse-related sales over the next three years.

The government's Information and Communications in Japan white paper says the global metaverse market in 2021 was worth about 31 billion dollars. It forecasts that will expand roughly 18-fold to almost 573 billion dollars by 2030.