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5G Broadcast - Operational Parameters in Use
This page documents the operational parameters observed in live and trial 5G Broadcast (LTE-based evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service, eMBMS) deployments and as configured in 5G-MAG reference tool implementations. Where Deployment Profiles lists the capabilities a receiver is required to support, this page records the concrete values seen in practice; read the two together.
Terms used in the tables below: MBSFN (Multicast-Broadcast Single Frequency Network); MCCH (Multicast Control Channel); MTCH (Multicast Traffic Channel); Extended CP (Extended Cyclic Prefix, a longer guard interval used to tolerate the larger signal delays of single-frequency-network operation); SFN (Single Frequency Network); MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme).
Key Parameters
Subframe Configuration
| Parameter | Typical Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MBSFN Subframe Ratio | 6 out of 8 | Used in dedicated broadcast mode |
| Cyclic Prefix | Extended CP | Required for SFN deployments |
| Subcarrier Spacing (CAS) | 15 kHz | Standard LTE numerology; used in the Cell Acquisition Subframe |
| Subcarrier Spacing (PMCH) | 1.25 / 2.5 / 7.5 / 0.37 kHz | FeMBMS numerology chosen per coverage and mobility target |
The Cell Acquisition Subframe (CAS) always uses 15 kHz SCS and the standard cyclic prefix, occupying a narrow 15 or 25 PRB (3 or 5 MHz) regardless of the PMCH bandwidth; a receiver acquires on the narrowband CAS and the SIBs then signal the wider PMCH region. One radio frame per 40 ms period (SFN mod 4 == 0) carries the CAS. The PMCH numerology is a deployment choice: 1.25 kHz for high-power high-tower large single-frequency networks, 7.5 kHz for standard-area broadcast, 2.5 kHz for mobile reception (up to around 250 km/h), and 0.37 kHz for the largest SFN areas.
Channel Bandwidth
| Parameter | Typical Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PMCH bandwidth | 6 / 7 / 8 MHz (30 / 35 / 40 PRB) | UHF broadcast bandwidths added in 3GPP Rel-17, signalled by pmch-Bandwidth-r17 in SIB13 |
| Legacy LTE bandwidth | up to 20 MHz | Applies when pmch-Bandwidth-r17 is absent |
The 6/7/8 MHz PMCH bandwidths align with the UHF broadcast channel rasters used across ITU Regions 1, 2 and 3. When pmch-Bandwidth-r17 is not present, the legacy LTE bandwidth carried in MIB-MBMS applies.
Modulation and Coding
| Parameter | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Modulation | QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM | Depends on coverage target |
| Modulation (higher-order) | up to 256-QAM | Available on PMCH since Rel-14, selected via TS 36.213 Table 7.1.7.1-1A |
| Code Rate | Variable | Configured per MTCH |
| MCCH Period | 80 ms | Typical MBSFN area |
MCS values are configured per MTCH, so a single carrier can carry several services at different robustness/throughput points. The MCCH is re-read at each modification-period boundary so the receiver picks up any TX-side configuration change.
SFN Synchronisation
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Timing Advance Guard | Depends on SFN radius |
| Maximum SFN Area Radius | ~100 km (with extended CP) |
| GPS Synchronisation | Required for SFN alignment |
Frequency Bands
Bands in active use for LTE-based 5G Broadcast deployments:
- Band 8 (900 MHz): Used for wide-area rural coverage
- Band 28 (700 MHz): Primary band for broadcast in several markets
- Band 107 (UHF, 612 to 652 MHz): Receive-only broadcast band, first defined in the Release 18 version of 3GPP TS 36.101 and made release-independent from Release 17 via TS 36.307
- Band 108 (UHF, 470 to 698 MHz): Receive-only broadcast band added alongside Band 107 in 3GPP Release 18, for co-existence with digital terrestrial television (DTT)
- Bands 112 and 113 (UHF, 470 to 608 MHz and 606 to 698 MHz): Receive-only broadcast bands added in 3GPP Release 19, release-independent from Release 17
All four bands are defined as standalone downlink-only (SDO) bands in Table 5.5H-1 of 3GPP TS 36.101. The published ETSI TS 103 720 v1.2.1 does not yet include specific frequency bands; its clause 8 defers band configurations to a future revision.
Receiver Profiles
ETSI TS 103 720 defines normative receiver categories (Base, Main, 5GMS, Emergency Alerts; see Deployment Profiles). In 5G-MAG's deployment work the following receiver profiles are used:
- Profile A (RAN-only): Receive-Only Mode using FeMBMS physical layer only. Typical of a dedicated broadcast receiver with no cellular return path, for example a TV set, a set-top box, or an in-car broadcast tuner.
- Profile B (Full): Full LTE UE supporting both unicast and broadcast modes. Typical of a smartphone or connected tablet that can both stream over cellular and receive broadcast.
References
- ETSI TS 103 720: 5G Broadcast System for linear TV and radio services
- 5G Broadcast Deployment Profiles
- Standards: 5G Broadcast - TV, Radio and Emergency Alerts
References to verify
The band frequency ranges and release attributions above were verified against 3GPP TS 36.101 (Table 5.5H-1), TS 36.307 and the published ETSI TS 103 720 v1.2.1. The observed subframe, bandwidth, modulation and SFN parameter values reflect 5G-MAG member deployment experience and reference tool configurations; they have no single public specification to check against and may differ between networks.
Related
- 5G Broadcast - TV, Radio and Emergency Alerts: the parent topic page
- 5G Broadcast Deployment Profiles: the receiver-capability profiles a device is expected to support
- Standards: 5G Broadcast - TV, Radio and Emergency Alerts: the specification list for this topic
- 5G Broadcast Reference Tools: the transmitter and modem implementation