We’ve all heard a lot of hype about 5G, the latest wireless broadband communications technology. 5G is real, is rapidly being deployed, and seems destined to become an increasingly important part of the broadcaster’s toolset.

NAB Show is putting 5G in the spotlight with a number of informative sessions tailored to provide information about the technology and its role in both increasing a broadcaster’s ease and agility in covering live events and helping to trim the costs involved.

This very high-speed wireless connectivity brings with it the potential for replacing conventional wired (and wireless) linkage to cameras at such outside events as sporting matches, music festivals and parades, reducing capital outlay and storage and maintenance expenses. 5G connectivity may even replace the large TV mobile production trucks with permanent centralized facilities linked wirelessly to large numbers of cameras and audio sources located anywhere from a few miles to a continent away.

With such a sea change stirring, it behooves content producers and broadcasters to learn as much as possible about the nature of 5G and how it may be applied to their endeavors.

5G IS WORTH A LOOK

“5G should be looked at from several points of view,” said Stan Moote is chief technology officer at the International Trade Association for Broadcast & Media Technology (IABM). “As the roadmap indicates, COVID-driven adjustments in both working from home and remote production are taking hold, and this means that 5G is becoming a key technology. Remote working means newer methods for collaboration are required and 5G is a clear backhaul contender. With home networks occasionally crashing, 5G also provides a much higher layer of confidence in connection with protected feeds, IFBs and [remote] control functions.”        

Video content is being consumed via smart phones, tablets and similar consumer devices at an astonishing rate and shows no sign of leveling off. A recent study forecasts that within five years 5G will be carrying 62 percent of the world’s smartphone traffic and that an astounding 79 percent of that traffic will be video content.

As more and more content producers and distributors tap into 5G for their distribution, the application of open-source tools will be essential in the development and deployment of services. A cross-industry organization, the 5G Media Action Group or “5G-MAG,” has been created to facilitate collaboration of all media distribution stakeholders in the deployment of services via 5G. As a particular effort to respond to the need for software, the 5G-MAG Reference Tools project has recently been established. Since its start in late 2021, a steadily growing developer community is committed to create common open-source reference tools to support implementation and interoperability of 5G Media technologies.

“The Internet is being increasingly used by service providers to expand content reach and by users to consume it at anytime, anywhere and on any device,” commented Thomas Stockhammer, Qualcomm’s director of technical standards. “With mobile technologies driving global video consumption, it is paramount to empower the media industry with the adequate tools to access the 5G media platform. Access to open-source tools to support prototyping, trials and possibly even deployments is of utmost relevance. The 5G-MAG Reference Tools development program is now developing the ecosystem of common open-source reference tools to support the implementation and interoperability of 5G Media technologies. “

Mickaël Raulet, chief technology officer at Ateme, discussed the importance of broadcasters learning as much about 5G in connection with TV content delivery.

“Over the last couple of decades, IP technology has transformed our mobile phones into tools to listen to music, store photos, do our banking and much more,” he said. “While the video world is also transforming with IP technology, this transformation is curbed by bandwidth restrictions. 5G promises to change that with higher bandwidth and multi-access edge computing, transforming the way audiences engage with content and creating new business opportunities for broadcasters.”   

ROLLING OUT 5G GEAR

Broadcast equipment manufacturers are already rolling out products for tapping 5G networks, and there should be plenty to see on the show floor.

Samuel Fleischhacker, senior product manager at Aviwest, said, “Our new PRO460 5G transmitter is the next evolution of Aviwest’s flagship PRO bonded-cellular transmitter series for remote and at-home video production. It’s a must-have solution for facilitating live remote production over 5G with the potential for greater mobility, productivity, premium quality and massive savings in operational and capital expenses.”

Also, look for Vidovation’s 5G-enabled encoder/transmitter being displayed at the Aviwest booth. And be sure to stop in at the LiveU exhibit to check their LU300 HEVC encoder for connecting to 5G networks.

Additional exhibitors addressing 5G include AVIWEST, Cisco, Dejero, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, HISPASAT, NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, NOVELSAT, Rohde & Schwarz, ST Engineering iDirect, Verizon, Viking Satcom and Vislink Technologies.

5G is destined to be a game changer for everyone, and broadcasters need to get in on the ground floor.

Copyright NAB Show Daily

BOSTON—5G could very well begin carving a space for itself among fellow TV and video providers, according to a recently conducted report from Strategy Analytics.

It is likely that new 5G wireless services will feature TV and video capability and recent demonstrations have suggested that 5G will support 1 Gbps data throughput rates. This new ability could take some of the space currently occupied by cable, satellite, IPTV and terrestrial broadcast service providers.

“The efficiency of the end-to-end network will determine whether 5G TV is possible, but we have seen enough from early demonstrations by operators like Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, SK Telecom, AT&T and BT to suggest that it will arrive sooner or later in many parts of the world,” said Sue Rudd, director, Service Provider Analysis.

Strategy Analytics’ report indicates that the number of households and devices supported by a 5G TV service within any cell will be a key determining factor for 5G TVs. The number of termination locations can be increased by a factor of three or more by deploying several network enhancements that deliver “trunking” efficiency in the Radio Access Network. These include MIMO and beamforming for optimal spectrum use, virtualization of cell sites, dynamic throughput over backhaul networks and network slicing to guarantee data rates to the home.

“The emergence of 5G TV would represent a further stage in the convergence of media and communications and wireless and fixed services,” said David Mercer, VP and principal analyst. “It would also raise important questions relating to the roles of different ecosystem players and the future structure of the media value chain.”

The full report can be accessed here.