In Memoriam: Roland Beutler

It is with great sadness that we have learnt that our friend and colleague Roland Beutler passed away on June 16 following a short illness.

Roland worked for most of his life at Südwestrundfunk (SWR), one of the regional public-service broadcasters in the Federal Republic of Germany.  

Since 2015, Roland led the effort to bring the broadcasters' production and distribution requirements into the 3GPP standardization process, at a time when these were largely absent from mobile standards. Through his determination and ability to build consensus he ensured that the broadcasting community's voice was heard and their requirements became part of the evolution of 3GPP technologies.

As Vice-Chair of the 5G Media Action Group (5G-MAG) and an active delegate across several 3GPP Working Groups representing EBU, Roland played a pivotal role in translating broadcasters' needs into concrete technical specifications.

At SWR Roland was the project manager of 5G Media2Go, a major venture that pioneered the integration of public-service audiovisual media and travel information into automotive infotainment systems using 5G Broadcast.

His legacy will endure in the standards he helped shape and in the many colleagues he inspired and mentored.

He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of working alongside him.

The funeral took place on June 24, 2026, in Stuttgart-Degerloch, with a ceremony that beautifully reflected his vibrant personality, including his lifelong dedication to the legendary German rock band Die Toten Hosen.

Thomas Stockhammer, kindly represented 5G-MAG. Roland and Thomas worked together on 5G Broadcast topics and both participated in 5G-MAG and for over ten years 3GPP groups.

The 5G-MAG community sends our condolences and best wishes to Roland’s wife Chris and his son Kai.

Rest in Peace Roland Beutler.