After more than five years of development work in 20 countries with the new 5G Broadcast technology, it is now on the agenda of broadcast provider Teracom which has started testing in Stockholm. The project will last for at least two years. Right now, public service radio (1) and television channels (4) are included in the broadcasts, which are primarily intended for mobile devices such as smartphones and connected cars. The broadcasts take place in the terrestrial network for TV (UHF band 682 MHz). Read more here >
Teracom has started pilot broadcasts with 5G Broadcast to show how the technology can be used for the distribution of media, VMA and other socially important information with high security requirements. The broadcasts are based on standard protocols and the network technology is well known and proven. 5G broadcast can play an important role in preparedness, not least because it can be established with full national authority, says Daniel Tisljarec, Sales and Innovation Manager at Teracom.
The marginal costs are low for us to get this started. It is a very democratic technology. All you need is a terminal that is equipped with 3GPP, that is, can connect to a mobile network. You do not need a subscription with an operator and it is “one-way”. You can convey both TV and radio services and we would also like to do VMA (Emergency Warning messages) with this as an alternative channel, continues Tisljarec.
Mobile devices can receive information via 5G Broadcast even when there is no coverage for normal data traffic, when mobile networks are overloaded or down. The technology costs nothing for users, does not require a connection, SIM card or subscription, and the recipients do not reveal their location or what they choose to watch, since the communication is one-way. Most of the technology needed is already in today's mobile phones, but they need some minor additions.
For this to be realized, a sufficiently large market is required. Right now, the 5G Broadcast market is mainly driven by Asia, the US and Europe, where, for example, France has presented a rollout plan to expand coverage to large parts of the population starting in 2026. We want to see momentum on this issue in other countries as well. With the increasingly uncertain global situation, society needs to invest in a technology that can reach everyone everywhere, even in times of crisis and war, says Daniel Tisljarec.
Some additional facts
There are less than 10 percent of the households using digital terrestrial network (DTT) - and further declining. This year all commercial television broadcasters in Sweden has left the digital terrestrial network (DTT) leaving the public broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) alone with its four channels. This means that SVT as the sole user has to pay for the full network operation costs.. In the public debate there are now proposals to use 5G Broadcast on DTT. However, the public broadcasters and the politicians are quite late on the ball.
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