Smartphones In France Will Access Terrestrial Networks Already This Year

Operational 5G Broadcast in DTT networks to cover 40 million 2028.

As announced at the the Mobile World Congress the French telecom and broadcast provider TDF launching the operational deployment of 5G BROADCAST starting in 2026: around twenty sites in France this year to cover more than 12 million inhabitants, followed by a gradual rollout until the end of 2028 with more than 320 sites across the country and more than 40 million people covered. This summer, 5G BROADCAST will also be deployed in the Rennes metro. A concrete demonstration of its ability to operate in mobile environments, including complex ones.

First Smartphone With 5G Broadcast - Soon in Your Pocket

Launch in Barcelona signals an upcoming mass market.

At the recent Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​XGN Global (USA) and X1 Mobile (Ireland) have presented the world's first commercial smartphone capable of receiving 5G BROADCAST. The X1 Mobile 5G Broadcast Rugged Smartphone has been specifically designed for emergency services and to deliver enhanced broadcast content in demanding environments where traditional mobile networks may be congested or unavailable.

5G BROADCAST is conceived as a transformative terrestrial technology that aims to enable the direct delivery of live TV, radio and emergency information to compatible devices without requiring a mobile subscription or consuming mobile data. Its goal is to leverage existing broadcast infrastructure for efficient coverage over a larger entire area. (Read much more below)

New System For Terrestrial Radio And Television On The Move

5G BROADCAST also on the Olympic stage in Milan-Cortina but the smartphone is the crucial factor.

Following successful demonstrations during the Paris 2024 Olympics, Italian public service broadcaster Rai and the EBU conducted new pre-commercial 5G BROADCAST tests during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. How 5G BROADCAST could leverage a robust DTT antenna infrastructure to extend live and unencrypted radio and television broadcasts to smartphones and other end devices, especially for demanding applications such as live broadcasting of major sporting events and the delivery of essential services to mobile phones in emergency situations.