5G broadcast will play a central role in securing the long-term future of terrestrial broadcasting.
Moreover, according to Michael Wagenhofer, CEO, ORS, it will complement DVB-T2 networks and in some cases even substitute them.
Speaking at MBT 2019 in Budapest, Wagenhofer said that broadcast distribution currently finds itself at a crossroads, moving to either “broadband takes it all” or “5G broadcast” scenarios.
While the former includes such elements as dependence on the network operators, decreasing quality and unregulated costs, the latter would see a global technical standard for the first time in TV history, the combination of multicast and unicast, shared broadcast and nationwide coverage.
There would also be three essential pillars to create a 5G broadcast ecosystem, namely demonstrating the need for 5G broadcast, a regulatory framework and long-term frequency spectrum availability for broadcasting after 2030.
Meanwhile, also speaking at MBT 2019, Lars Backlund, secretary general, BNE, provided a more cautious view on 5G and terrestrial TV.
Although 5G broadcast may complement DTT in the future, there are still many questions that need to be answered.
