Broadcast & 5G: Basics - Use cases

In the world of networks that underpin our consumption of audio and video media, two types are omnipresent: "Broadcast" networks for broadcasting classic radio and television programs, and "Telecom" networks, also known as "Broadband", for distribution to fixed or mobile terminals.

Operators of such networks are called Broadcast Network Operator (BNO) for broadcast networks, and Mobile Network Operator (MNO) for mobile terminals. These players form either a single group, or two separate groups. In France, for example, the BNOs are TDF (Télédiffusion de France) and towerCast, and the MNOs are Orange (formerly France Télécom), Bouygues Telecom, Free and SFR.

An example of the association between the two network worlds is the development in the early 2000s of IPTV, or television over IP, via ADSL or optical fiber, or via satellite, and comprising linear television (multicast, for a group of users) and VoD/AoD (unicast, for one user).

Also in the early 2000s, broadcasters saw their media distribution and access vectors diversify (smartphones, tablets). They tried to develop and implement various variants of DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) compatible broadcast technologies for laptops and mobiles... but to no avail, not least because of the lack of compatible terminals.

At the same time, telecoms companies worldwide were developing new technologies and standards within the 3GPP project, leading to a 5th generation, "5G". This technology allows for specific variations, such as "5G Broadcast" and "5G Mobile Broadband", which should enable either the broadcasting of linear radio and television programs, or the distribution of non-linear media services, particularly to laptops and mobiles. This rapprochement has been achieved by taking into account the specificities of broadcasting, which have been the subject of specifications proposed by the EBU/UER (European Broadcasting Union/Union européenne de radio-télévision) and integrated by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project).

The first part of this article presents a few reminders concerning :

• linear and non-linear audio-visual services as well as traditional radio and television broadcasting channels (§ 1 );

• ...