Evolution of 5G Bringing New Opportunities in Cellular and Broadcast Ecosystem

Fremont, CA:Videos currently drive the greatest traffic across all networks, accounting for almost two-thirds of global mobile data usage – and this trend is anticipated to continue over the next decade. Cellular broadcast is one such technology that has led to the era of 5G broadcasting after several generations of development. It's a new end-to-end system developed for a variety of uses, including offering linear TV services and new immersive experiences (e.g., XR), as well as easing public safety communication and improving car safety.

There are two distinct modes of 5G broadcasting

The goal of 5G is to create a single platform that can connect a wide range of devices, services, and installations. In Release 16, 5G broadcast is defined to support two unique modes: 5G standalone broadcast and mixed-mode multicast.

5G standalone broadcast

A dedicated broadcast-only network (i.e., not connected to cellular networks) that can meet the evolving needs of broadcasters and content providers by efficiently delivering material to both fixed and mobile devices, allowing them to reach a larger audience. Release 16 improved TV, building on Release 14's innovative end-to-end system and radio access design, and can meet all main TR 38.913 5G broadcast criteria. It can be used in current UHF spectrum (470 to 698 MHz) that broadcasters own or have access to, and its architecture allows existing cellular modem building blocks to be reused.

5G mixed-mode multicast

A novel 5G capability in mobile operator networks that allows for dynamic switching between unicast and broadcast modes, potentially increasing system capacity and efficiency.

In Release 17 and beyond, both standalone broadcast and mixed-mode multicast will continue to evolve, boosting system performance and expanding into new use cases like as IoT and public safety communication.