to $10.41 billion by 2028, compared to a mere $1.89 billion for network slicing according to GSMA. LiveU cites 20 to 30 examples of private 5G networks in action last year, mostly around sports. The number demonstrates this kind of deployment is more readily available than slicing. Both slicing and private methods share similarities. They enable broadcasters to use a dedicated section of bandwidth, highly useful in traffic-congested areas such as arenas – where other users can delay and interrupt the transmission. Both have the capacity to receive and forward multiple, concurrent UHD videos in real time. Live event producers have long used wireless cameras because of the flexibility and greater safety over cabled kit. The key advantage of 5G over traditional wireless camera systems is it’s bidirectional, with IP connectivity to all devices on a given network. “As IP workflows are now embedded in event coverage – particularly since increasing adoption of remote production – this is a game changer,” says Brown. “Previously nomadic wireless camera systems can now be monitored and controlled via IP using their built-in GUIs, and engineering teams can manage their mobile assets wherever these assets are deployed in the world – reducing the number of technicians required on site.” However, challenges remain regarding the implementation of the technology to handle the high bandwidth and very low latency required in high-end live production. “5G is some way off in terms of displacing traditional wireless camera systems,” states Brown, who says 5G can struggle to deliver the required bit rates of a live high-end sport ‘because it is optimised for maximising the download speeds to consumer phones and tablets.’ Slicing outperforms private 5G by enabling a guaranteed end-to-end path from RF to the local tower and backhaul across the network. Private networks, on the other hand, only assure the local portion of this, after which the feed can hit congestion in the public network. In private scenarios, the broadcaster has to work a little harder to set up their own infrastructure such as radio, antenna and a network core to deploy the radio into. Even here, though, there have been advances made. “You can get everything down to running on a mini PC plugged into the radio. It is MEDIA COMPANIES WILL LIKELY PREFER TO PROVISION SLICES WITH SPECIFIC SLRS FOR INDIVIDUAL EVENTS
CELLULAR CONTRIBUTION Sky Deutschland created a multicam, 5G and cloud video production proof of concept to cover table tennis at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin last June. The LU800 was used in four-camera mode, plus three smartphones equipped with LU-Smart to capture the action. Feeds were encoded and sent to Munich, being decoded on reception. Vision mixing occurred in the cloud; the final output made available to both the director of the world feed and also to Sky Deutschland’s unilateral feed.
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