FMT#3: 5G Broadcast - ready for launch?
- 5G-MAG
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Find here the summary of panel discussion on 5G Broadcast at the Future Media Townhall.
Please note that these are quick summaries generated with AI tools. We apologize for any inaccuracy. Please refer to the presentations from the speakers for the details.
Find other content in the following links:
Towards the on-line-only future of media delivery: https://www.5g-mag.com/post/fmt-1-towards-the-on-line-only-future-of-media-delivery
Enabling the immersive media experience for all: https://www.5g-mag.com/post/fmt-2-enabling-the-immersive-media-experience-for-all
5G-MAG Members' Demos and Paper Pitches: https://www.5g-mag.com/post/5g-mag-members-demos-and-papers-shine-at-the-fmt
The panel presentation “5G Broadcast – Ready for Launch?” explored the technological, ecosystem, and business readiness of 5G Broadcast, positioning it as a transformative step in the evolution of live media distribution. The session emphasized the need for collaboration between infrastructure vendors, chipset-makers, broadcasters, content owners, regulators, and consumers, framing 5G Broadcast as a multi-player ecosystem that requires alignment across the value chain.
Key achievements to date were highlighted, beginning with the world’s first end-to-end 8 MHz 5G Broadcast transmission in 2021, followed by the world’s smallest open-source 5G broadcast receiver (OBECA). Field demonstrations included the MotoGP trial in 2023 where live broadcast achieved sub-800ms glass-to-glass latency, validating its low-latency potential. Parallel milestones include the first prototype smartphones, PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) field tests,...
Technically, the transition is closely linked to 3GPP Release 19 (2024–2025), which defines capabilities such as Time Frequency Interleaving (TFI) to improve robustness in mobility scenarios, and “CAS muting,” which enables coexistence with DVB-T2 services. This smooth integration is crucial for Broadcast Network Operators (BNOs) seeking to reduce pre-investment costs while enabling public warning services (PWS). However, the panel emphasized the importance of interoperability and multi-vendor testing, with a proposed first infrastructure plugfest under 5G-MAG by end of 2025.
From a business perspective, the 5G Broadcast Business Strategy Task Force (5BSTF) has set out three sprints: (1) design clear deployment scenarios, (2) define monetization models, and (3) create compelling value propositions for OEMs. Population coverage targets project EU deployments between 2027–2029, with Germany and France leading rollouts. The device roadmap foresees test devices in late 2027 (Q3), first commercial launches in 2028 (Q1) with flagship smartphones, followed by waterfall adoption into mid- and lower-tier devices, as well as vertical markets like automotive.
A particularly notable moment came when Brazilian representatives, including Frederico Siqueira (Minister of Communications) and Wilson Wellisch (Secretário Nacional de Comunicação Social Eletrônica do Ministério das Comunicações), gave a pitch on Brazil’s TV 3.0 initiative, which incorporates 4K–8K video, HDR, 3D audio, and connectivity features. Brazil’s regulatory framework (Broadcast Law 4117/1962, Telecommunication Law 9472/1997) is being revisited to integrate 5G Broadcast as part of TV 3.0 rollout. Tests using the duplex gap in 748–763 MHz have already started, signaling Brazil’s ambition to align broadcast modernization with mobile-first strategies and interoperability with 5G.
Overall, the panel reinforced that 5G Broadcast is moving from trials toward commercialization, with Europe and Brazil both developing strategies that combine standards, networks, devices, and regulation to make large-scale deployment viable.
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