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.

National Public Service Broadcaster In Bosnia is Collapsing.

A divided nation failed to create a common media platform. 

After more than ten years of chronic underfunding, the public service broadcaster and EBU member BHRT - Radiotelevision of Bosnia and Herzegovina has today been forced to close its television channel BHT1 and radio channel BH Radio 1. The company's debts amount to around 40 million euro, of which onefifth is owed to the EBU. The background is a political and economic crisis. The problems include unpaid license fees, disagreements over media laws, debts to the EBU, and the regional broadcasters (RTRS and RTVF) refusing to transfer revenues.

Public Service Radio Challenged by New Commercial Broadcaster in Sweden

 Aftonbladet Radio might be a salvation for a feeble commercial radio industry.

The Media Authority has announced three new permits to broadcast commercial FM radio nationally; two broad music and entertainment channels and a current affairs and news channel for the period 2026-2034. The newspaper Aftonbladet will broadcast a news-focused channel in contrast to the two other entertainment-oriented radio channels. The decision means that commercial radio at least partly can now develop into what politicians envisioned 33 years ago; a private advertising-financed alternative to public service radio (Sveriges Radio P1 and P4).

5G Broadcast For Boston Television A Reality in 2026

40 million plus US coverage potential after FCC approval

5G Broadcast is an LTE-based Terrestrial Broadcast technology, supported by broadcasters for future digital terrestrial television (DTT). 2026 starts off with Boston TV stations WCRN and WWOO both applying to the FCC for experimental 5G Broadcast licenses in anticipation of fully licensed 5G Broadcast facilities in 2026. The combined station coverage is 8,386,887 people. Using the X1 Mobile’s 5G Broadcast core, tests will include use of the 5G Broadcast core to deliver content to the stations for broadcast. This will include field test reliability of new 5G Broadcast receivers with 5G Broadcast configured chips and testing of app’s developed specifically for 5G Broadcast use.  

The next phase for the US deployment involves a network rollout of ten 5G Broadcast enabled television stations covering over 40 million people plus various single 5G Broadcast network affiliates throughout the US.

Digital radio DRM to be launched in South Africa

DRM+ will complement analogue broadcasting in the FM band

Aldred Dreyer, chairman of the DRM South Africa Group, spearheading the development, roll-out and promotion of DRM radio, says the trial will commence which follows the granting of a trial license by communications regulator Icasa. The DRM+ trial will be conducted from a high site in Northcliff, Johannesburg, using spectrum in the FM band, according to a report in TechCentral. Dreyer plans to approach the SABC’s technology division to gauge interest in joining the trial. One of the conditions of the trial is that we can’t do commercial promotion. We can create awareness, demonstrate the technology and explain what listeners will need – but we can’t say, ‘We’re live, go buy a receiver.’  -   Read more here about the trials which are planned to start on World Radio Day February 13.