Mobile broadcast has thus far been a technological cul de sac, but that could be about to change as trials exploring 5G broadcast come to fruition.
5G broadcast should make it possible for broadcasters to more efficiently deliver video and other media content to mobile devices and TV screens. Applications range from delivering linear TV services and new immersive experiences (like XR) to facilitating public safety communication, better automotive safety, and more.
The foundations for it are written into the latest 5G specifications published at the end of 2020 by the 3GPP.
In Release 16 the technology supports two distinct modes: 5G standalone broadcast and mixed-mode multicast.
As outlined by chip maker Qualcomm, 5G standalone broadcast is a dedicated broadcast-only network (that it, it is independent of cellular networks) that can gives broadcasters and content providers the ability to deliver content delivery to both fixed and mobile devices It can be deployed in existing UHF spectrum (i.e., 470 to 698 MHz) that broadcasters already own or have access to, and its design allows the reuse of existing cellular modem building blocks.
READ MORE: Making 5G broadcast ready for prime time (Qualcomm)
WAIT, WE’RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT 6G? WHAT ABOUT 5G?
6G may already be on the horizon, but there’s still a lot to understand about the benefits — and limitations — of 5G, which is rolling out across the US but has yet to reach peak saturation. Dive into these selections from the NAB Amplify archives to learn what, exactly, 5G is, how it differs from 4G, and — most importantly — how 5G will bolster the Media & Entertainment industry on the road ahead:
- Why 5G is the Cool Thing That Still Hasn’t Happened
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- 5G Technology Goes Way Beyond Better Cellphone Service
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5G Mixed-mode multicast is a new 5G capability in mobile operator networks that can support dynamic switching between unicast and broadcast modes. This can improve system capacity and efficiency.
That 5G broadcast isn’t reliant on wireless operators to be the sole providers of the technology affords optimism that it will succeed where MediaFLO, LTE Broadcast and DVB-H failed before it.
“The previous attempts tried to turn the operator into a broadcaster,” Lorenzo Cassaccia, VP of technical standards at Qualcomm explained to Light Reading. “That only worked in a few countries where the cellular operator had the rights to transmit things like live sporting events.”
READ MORE: 5G Broadcast could offer new mode of digital media delivery (Light Reading)
According to Devaki Chandramouli, head of North American standardization at Nokia, the 3GPP didn’t want a repeat of its LTE Broadcast standard, also known as evolved multimedia broadcast multicast services (eMBMS), which didn’t generate much interest from the market. “The 3GPP has limited time and resources so we have to prioritize the features. We want to spend the effort on features that will eventually become a commercial reality.”
But in the US, the FCC auctioned off UHF television spectrum in the 700MHz band in 2008. Most of those 700MHz licenses went to wireless operators which used that spectrum to deploy 4G.
Nevertheless, Cassaccia thinks that some US broadcasters and wireless providers will ink some sort of alliance “because ultimately the broadcast content has to be received by a wireless device and that device will need a 5G Broadcast-compatible chipset.”
“Previous attempts tried to turn the operator into a broadcaster. That only worked in a few countries where the cellular operator had the rights to transmit things like live sporting events.”
— Lorenzo Cassaccia
That’s why Qualcomm is closely eying this area. “We want to see if there is enough momentum to make this feature a part of the silicon,” he said.
In recent years, the support for 5G broadcast across the broader mobile and broadcast ecosystem has grown significantly. This includes the 5G Multimedia Action Group (5G MAG) is a cross-industry organization established in 2019 that has more than 40 active members (including Verizon and BT) promoting the commercial adoption of 5G broadcast.
Under its aegis, a number of tests have been organized including 5G MEDIA2GO, which aims to integrate linear and nonlinear broadcast content and services in the infotainment system of a car.
READ MORE: 5G MEDIA2GO – 5G-MAG Trials, Tests and Projects (Global 5G)
The two-year trial in Germany involves Kathrein Broadcast, Porsche, Telekom Deutschland and Rohde & Schwarz, and ends in November. It combines two high-power-high-tower transmitters located at broadcast network sites in Stuttgart and Heilbronn and low-power-low-tower transmitters at mobile network sites to create a single frequency network to distribute linear TV programs using 5G Broadcast.
Another, independent trial, is being conducted in Beijing with the aim of having a commercially deployed 5G Broadcast network for the 2022 Winter Olympics in six months time.
Cassaccia tells Light Reading that he hopes that the technology is commercially available in the next couple of years but admits that the biggest challenge is coming up with a business model. “There are business model and strategy questions that are being answered.”
Both standalone broadcast and mixed-mode multicast will continue to evolve in 3GPP Release 17 and beyond, further enhancing system performance and expanding into new use cases like IoT and public safety communication.