© Towercast
5G Broadcast technology is being tested in France to broadcast DTT beyond televisions. Experiments are on the rise.
Impossible to receive DTT directly without a compatible television. This constraint could however be lifted thanks to 5G Broadcast technology. The operator of digital radio and television services Towercast, a subsidiary of the NRJ group, organized a demonstration this week which Les Echos were able to attend. DTT programs were broadcast on prototype smartphones supplied by chip giant Qualcomm and antenna manufacturer Rohde & Schwarz. A trio already at work on May 14 when it came to broadcasting in France the Eurovision Song Contest from Turin.
Breathing new life into DTT?
The audiovisual group France Télévisions is also particularly interested in it and carried out tests during the last Roland Garros tournament.“The principle is similar to what is done today on DTT with the broadcasting of a channel on the terrestrial network only once for all customers, but with the advantage of being compatible with the different types of ‘equipment supporting 5G (and no longer just television) and with the possibility of enjoying it on the move”, underlines France Television on its site. This could be a way to breathe new life into TNT, which is experiencing growing disaffection from the public.
Contrary to what its name might suggest, 5G Broadcast does not rely on the 5G infrastructures of mobile operator networks. These are other antennas fixed on high points which are used on different frequency bands. The applications range from on-board mobility connectivity, to voice and data services for mobiles, or even the distribution of linear or live content as mentioned above.
No SIM card needed
There are several advantages to this technology. Smartphones do not need to be equipped with SIM cards to connect to them, which also means that users do not draw on the data envelope of their package. And it only requires a few sites to cover a large area like Ile de France against hundreds required for the mobile network, according to TowerCast. This overcomes the problems of congestion and coverage specific to mobile operators.
But there is a catch. Major manufacturers such as Apple or Samsung do not market compatible smartphones. And the frequency bands have only been authorized by theArcom only on an experimental basis for the moment. Its defenders have the Paris 2024 Olympics in their sights to move the file forward. They hope that this technology will take off in the next five years.
The echoes