Remote Production and Mobile Contribution Over 5G Networks: Scenarios, Requirements and Approaches for Broadcast Quality Media Streaming

Abstract

Media applications are amongst the most demanding services requiring high amounts of network capacity as well as extremely low latency for synchronous audiovisual streaming in production quality. Recent technological advances in the 5G domain hold the promise to unlock the potential of the media industry by offering high quality media services through dynamic efficient resource allocation. Actual implementations are now required to validate whether advanced media applications can be realised benefiting from ultra-low latency, very-high bandwidth and flexible dynamic configuration offered by these new 5G networks. A truly integrated approach is needed that focuses on the media applications not only on the management of generic network functions and the orchestration of resources at the various radio, fronthaul/backhaul, edge and core network segments. The H2020 5G PPP Phase 2 project 5G-MEDIA [1] leverages new options for more flexible, ad-hoc and cost-effective production workflows by replacing dedicated lines and hardware equipment with software functions (VNFs) facilitating (semi-) automated smart production in remote locations. Highly scalable virtualized media services deployed on or close to the edge reduce complexity for the user, ensure operational reliability and increase the Quality of Experience (QoE). Virtual compression engines have the potential to replace dedicated encoder/decoder hardware while the network optimisation (Cognitive Network Optimizer) in combination with the Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring helps to overcome the current internet best-effort principle and ensures that the required performance needs are met at all times.

Design of mmWave Directional Antenna for Enhanced 5G Broadcasting Coverage

“…The integration of traditional TV services and emerging media, such as internet protocol television (IPTV) and short video services, has become a new trend in 5G broadcasting services [ 4 ]. In the future, the 5G broadcasting services will develop in the direction of 4 K/8 K ultra-high-definition (Ultra HD), smooth video, and immersive virtual reality (VR) [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]. However, these high-quality services pose huge challenges in allocating limited spectrum resources in 5G broadcasting.…”