Spanish broadcaster RTVE is joining forces with Rohde & Schwarz to test the broadcast/multicast capabilities of 5G in Barcelona.
The trial, which launches today, will involve a live 5G Broadcast signal by RTVE to smartphones, tablets and a range of SIM-less devices across central Barcelona.
Rohde & Schwarz is providing the end-to-end 5G Broadcast/Multicast solution, which is fully compliant to 3GPP Release 14/15.
The demonstration will be based around Rohde & Schwarz’s 1.5 KW TMU9evo 5G Broadcast enabled transmitter, with its Broadcast Service and Control Centre (BSCC1.0) playing the role of a core network. In addition, a software defined receiver (SDR), developed by Technical University of Braunschweig is being employed to demonstrate the 5G Broadcast reception.
The content due to broadcast for the trial includes both live and non-live 4K streams. The live content is provided by RTVE, including the company’s Radio 5 and TV channel Canal 24H.
“5G Multicast has some way to go before it becomes commercially available, but what the current and upcoming trials are proving is that this new technology could radically change the way people access high quality digital media on the move,” said Manfred Reitmeier, vice president Transmitter and Amplifier Systems at Rohde & Schwarz.
