Terrestrial radio and television reaching out on smartphones
France is among 20 countries where 5G Broadcast terrestrial digital radio and television (DTT) is being tested. During the Olympics and throughout this summer, TDF allows users to test smartphones equipped with a chip specially configured for this test. In the areas covered by the experiment (Paris, Nantes and Bordeaux), they can watch the France 2, France 24 and Arte public television channels on these phones, while on the move, but also listen to public radio France Bleu and France Info.
France is emerging as a significant test bed for 5G Broadcast, with hundreds of mobile phones available in hands of experts and consumers. Karim El Naggar, general manager of audiovisual and networks at the TDF group: We plan to make DTT accessible on mobile within three years, and thus meet the needs of younger people in terms of content consumption. We are delighted to collaborate with various publishers, including France Télévisions, for this live test which underlines our commitment to maintaining DTT and spreading its service offering to a wider audience.
5G Broadcast technology has the advantage of receiving television and radio programs without requiring a mobile phone subscription or Wi-Fi connection. It provides access to quality radio and television on smartphones, while on the move, and in busy areas where traditional mobile networks can be saturated.
Xiaomi has configured their Mi13 smartphones to support 5G Broadcast using Qualcomm middleware, a critical step in the support for 5G Broadcast rollout. TDF has distributed these handsets to 250 selected users.
TDF is planning to migrate their UHD mux on DVB-T2 to 5G Broadcast by 2028 and converting their national pay-TV mux by 2030.
In business for 45 years, the TDF group operates and manages telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures, secure networks and connectivity services for public and private customers throughout France.
To learn more about the 5G Broadcast live test in Paris:
A new era of broadcasting at the Olympic Games (TVBeurope)
5G Broadcast: What can consumers expect? (Qualcomm blog)
We must combine broadcast and broadband to deliver the future (EBU blog)
5G Broadcast: What can consumers expect? (Qualcomm blog)
We must combine broadcast and broadband to deliver the future (EBU blog)
