The 5G Catalonia project, launched in 2020 and led by Cellnex and the MASMOVIL Group, was recently recognised with a GSMA Foundry Excellence Award 2023. Both companies lead a consortium focused on 5G technology-based deployments throughout Barcelona that includes Lenovo, nae, Nearby Computing, Parlem Telecom, Atos and Aumenta Solutions. The group’s aim is to bring about the digital transformation of the city in a way that benefits city residents, government organisations and the private sector.
TVU Networks played a key role in the group’s audio-visual test in collaboration with Spanish broadcasters beteve and La Xarxa, who produced the content. The test, a fully cloud-based, live, multi-camera production, proved how such a broadcast can be performed over a private, standalone 5G network,
Using TVU Networks’ cloud native technology, La Xarxa and betevé synchronised, edited and distributed multiple live audio and video signals for the newscast “btv notícies migdia” over a private 5G network. The live production demonstrated the expansive capacity of the TVU ecosystem within a 5G network, including the ability to transport and edit multiple HD signals remotely with a high-quality, low-latency broadcast output.
La Xarxa and betevé sent the live broadcast over a 5G network made available by telecom providers Cellnex Telecom, Grupo Masmovil and Lenovo. Spanish telco consulting firm Nae handled project management for the pilot.
The strengthened bonded cellular connections, sub-second latency and increased signal quality of TVU’s technology provide an ideal solution for multi-camera live production over 5G. The low latency of TVU solutions over 5G made it possible to conduct live interviews for “btv notícies migdia” without signal delays and to control robotic cameras remotely. With its high-capacity bandwidth, multiple HD signals can be delivered simultaneously.
The cloud native TVU Networks ecosystem consisted of TVU One 5G mobile transmitters, the TVU Producer live video production platform, and the TVU Anywhere mobile app, enabling the video contribution and editing of up to five live signals from betevé robotic, studio and cell phone cameras.
With TVU Anywhere, betevé and La Xarxa synchronised the video and audio over a cloud-based server. Once in the cloud, the various camera signals were mixed using the TVU Producer remote production system. The remote news content was then distributed to the Internet, social networks, and downloaded to betevé’s broadcast studio. At the studio, the cloud-produced video was integrated with the rest of the content in the DTT broadcast.
Cellnex Telecom Product Manager Xavi Redon led the pilot project and summarised its results this way: “Through our partnership with TVU, we’ve verified that over a 5G network we can transport several camera signals in HD resolution to the cloud, remotely control multiple cameras at different locations, and finally broadcast this live content with low latency. It also showed that recording and live transmission over 5G terminals is a cheap and flexible resource with the quality needed for broadcast.”
“TVU’s cloud-based tools in combination with 5G private networks and mobile transmitters provide the ultimate flexibility and reliability for remote live event production because they remove any concern about bandwidth availability and signal delays during the event,” said betevé Director Sergi Vicente.
La Xarxa CEO Marc Melillas pointed to the value of private 5G networks in congested environments and areas with less broadband coverage: “5G private networks will allow us to use portable backpacks to make contributions even in completely crowded squares or in areas where there is currently not enough coverage. This technology will facilitate the realisation of retransmissions that until now were far too complicated to deploy.”
“The 5G infrastructure, expanded network capacity and flexible configuration is driving explosive growth in a variety of viewing experiences,” said Rafael Castillo, General Manager/Vice President, TVU Networks. “Greater demands are placed on wireless systems, including requirements for higher data rates, improved reliability, stability, and low latency transmission. These ground-breaking applications require a video-over-IP infrastructure with the capability and flexibility to enable them.”
Since its launch the consortium has successfully performed several 5G projects, including the audio-visual transmission described above; the deployment of a multi-operator network; training and education using holographic imaging; virtual shopping; security and emergency management in Barcelona; quality control performance within an inaccessible area of a car manufacturing plant; and improved connectivity in areas of increased seasonal occupancy, such as coastal beaches.
The 5G Catalonia consortium was one of the winners of the second call for funds to develop 5G pilots, launched at the end of 2019 by Red.es, an entity of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, within the 5G National Plan. €5.4 million have been earmarked for the development of this project, 40 per cent of which has been provided by Red.es.
