(Credit: Morten Brandstrup)
TV 2, Sony, Ericsson and 3 Denmark have successfully trialled a live television broadcast of a football match over a 5G standalone (SA) network, leveraging cutting-edge millimetre wave (mmWave) technology.
The trial at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen marks a “transformative leap” in the production of live sports in Denmark, Ericsson said.
The live broadcast was transmitted over 3’s 5G SA infrastructure, which is supplied exclusively by Ericsson and includes the dual-mode 5G Core solution, transport and radio access network (RAN).
The trial was the first of its kind in Denmark utilizing 5G mmWave on a 5G SA network. New Radio-Dual Connectivity (NR-DC) combined 20 MHz of bandwidth in C-band (n78) and 800 MHz in mmWave (n258).
Read more How we did it: Deploying a private 5G network for a live football broadcast
The proof of concept tested four 5G broadcast cameras and one drone camera, each demanding 35Mbps and 100% uplink time from the network.
Enough capacity was provisioned in the stadium to support full arena TV production in the future, supporting more 5G cameras to capture the action from a large variety of camera angles.
Kim Christensen, chief technology officer at 3 Denmark, said: “The power of 5G standalone with millimetre wave technology enables us to deliver exceptional speeds and reduced latency, even in crowded environments like a packed stadium. This trial paves the way for more engaging, uninterrupted live sports broadcasts that fans will love.”
Morten Brandstrup, head of news technology at TV 2, shared the operational benefits of 5G technology for live TV broadcasting.
He said: “There are many advantages to producing with 5G. Photographers become much more flexible and mobile when everything is done wirelessly. Setting up a camera for sports matches is faster when you don’t have to pull hundreds of meters of cable, and we can use the 5G network that is already there, but now with a completely different security and stability in live production.”
Sony’s advancements in 5G-enabled broadcast camera technology were also showcased during the trial.
Claus Pfeifer, head of connected content acquisition at Sony Professional Europe, said: “The advent of 5G technology has revolutionized TV production, with 5G-enabled cameras now capable of transmitting high-resolution images wirelessly in real-time. This significant advancement paves the way for new possibilities in live broadcasting, offering viewers more captivating and interactive live content through 5G-powered transmissions.”
Niclas Backlund, country manager, Ericsson Denmark, said: “5G is changing the game in live sports entertainment by delivering high-quality, uninterrupted live broadcasting to the viewers. We are excited to join 3, TV 2, and Sony in this ground-breaking achievement, which highlights a key application for the broadcasting industry in capturing the value of 5G with differentiated connectivity, and creating unforgettable fan experiences.”
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