directly to a local broadcaster , or anywhere globally .”

Telstra ’ s Global Media Network , which Traver mentions , is a media contribution solution for live , linear and file-based video content . Telstra has integrated the solution into its consumer media workflow engines and content delivery network ( CDN ), which has in turn been connected to its mobile network , including the LTE-B control mechanisms .

For instance , Telstra has used and demonstrated the capabilities of the Global Media Network by acquiring sports content directly from outside broadcast ( OB ) vans located at sports stadiums in Australia . The content is then transported onto the domestic portion of the Global Media Network , where it is then converted and delivered to consumer mobile handsets utilising LTE-B .

Traver concludes : “ LTE provides supplemental capabilities for production , but will not replace fixed connections . As LTE evolves towards 5G , the opportunities to use wireless to supplement traditional consumer delivery platforms become more realistic .

“ LTE has the ability to define network slices , where each slice of the network can be defined with certain attributes relating to bandwidth and latency . As network slicing continues to evolve , it is not inconceivable that portions of the network can be used for expanded video distribution capabilities .”

Furthermore , the mobile industry is increasingly looking to adopt the evolved multimedia broadcast multicast services ( eMBMS ) specification — an LTEembedded broadcast approach — to serve the growing demand for mobile video consumption .

Adopting LTE broadcast to traditional high broadcasting towers suggests the possibility of cooperation between the cellular and broadcasting networks , thus reducing network load , energy

consumption and network costs — findings derived from 2015 trials of LTE-A + broadcast from high broadcasting towers in Paris , France , and Aosta , Italy . The joint project , initiated by Frence media company TDF and Italian broadcaster Rai , was based on the original Tower Overlay idea developed and implemented by Germany ’ s Technische Universitaet Braunschweig .

GatesAir provided its Maxiva ULXT with PowerSmart Plus technology transmitters in the trials , where two data streams shared the same ultra high frequency ( UHF ) channel in time-division with one stream conveying conventional digital HDTV programmes viewed on domestic DVB-T2 TV sets , and another embedded stream delivering a specific broadcast flow , intended for 4G LTE-A + smartphones , laptops and tablets .

The trials , according to Rich Redmond , chief product officer at GatesAir , were to prove the feasibility of co-existence between terrestrial DTV and LTE in the same spectrum , and on the same transmission infrastructure .

Suggesting LTE is one of the delivery methods that broadcasters could use today , he encourages more collaborations between broadcasters and mobile network operators . He explains : “ Broadcasters are migrating to a multiplatform delivery universe , and the content they have may be going out over-the-air via wired networks like cables , and even IP networks .

“ As more spectrum is looked upon to satisfy the expansion of mobile services and needs , some collaboration between broadcasters and mobile network operators , such as sharing limited available spectrum , could be realised . It won ’ t necessarily change how broadcasters deliver content , but it sets the stage for broadcasters to be more directly involved in LTE delivery than they are today .”

Although trials at this point

— Rich Redmond , Chief Product Officer , GatesAir

of time are mostly centralised in Europe , Redmond is positive that there are opportunities for Asia-Pacific tests moving forward . Asia-Pacific broadcasters are currently following closely on the developments of South Korea ’ s move in deploying ATSC 3.0 , he says , and it is an opportunity to explore how broadcast and mobile might co-exist in this structure , given that ATSC 3.0 is a native IPbased standard with capabilities to support interactivity with LTE networks .

Nonetheless , he believes that the traditional broadcast model will still be an efficient means of delivering content one-to-many , as it uses a single stream to reach mass audiences , instead of having every person consuming a stream on LTE network .

“ Convergence of broadcast and mobile is happening , and the concept of a much more complementary relationship between advanced broadcast standards and the wireless mobile networks seems certain . Regardless of which standard is used , there is a definite opportunity for broadcasters to be a symbiotic part of that multiplatform delivery ,” Redmond concludes .

Staying ahead of the technology curve , Nokia has been actively exploring the possibilities of 5G , as the company believes that 5G represents the “ new generation of radio systems and network architecture ”. With the capability of delivering network speeds as high as 10Gbps at “ extremely low

latency ”, Nokia is confident that this will be the driving force for new applications that use massive broadband capabilities .

Claiming the world needs gigabit speeds to improve economies and societies , Federico Guillén , president of Nokia ’ s fixed network business group , highlights that fixed networks will play a key role in “ achieving network transformation and true convergence with mobile as the world moves into the seamless communications era of 5G and the Internet of Things ( IoT )”.

He explains : “ A few years ago , some people saw mobile as the only technology and to some , fixed , wireline networks were effectively ‘ dead ’. The reality is , however , that fixed [ networks ] is very much back , stronger than ever , and it is a necessary technology to realise our gigabit societies of the future , delivering higher speeds than mobile , and being highly complementary .

“ And while the world is going mobile , mobile is going fixed . This is especially true in the world of 5G and if we are to cope with the opportunities of the IoT as we move towards digital societies of the future .”

Fuelling the need to incorporate 5G into broadband networks , the company recently partnered Singtel Optus to collaborate on the “ network evolution to 5G ”, with the goal of enabling a host of network capabilities , such as IoT , extreme broadband and ultra-low latency applications .

According to the companies ,

GatesAir ’ s ULXT with PowerSmart Plus technology transmitters were deployed during the 2015 trials of LTE-A + broadcast from high broadcasting towers in Paris , France , and Aosta , Italy .

the key project of this collaboration will be a 5G trial using Optus ’ 3500MHz spectrum band , and both companies will undertake an early 5G prototype in this spectrum band in Australia by 2017 .

Under the collaboration , the companies will also promote 5G global standardisation and industrialisation , explore and conduct trials for new network architectures and applications , as well as build technology leadership in 5G .

Tay Soo Meng , group CTO , Singtel , concludes : “ 5G is exciting and the potential use for 5G is growing . Through this partnership , the commencement of joint studies , and in-lab and in-field testing , we are primed to explore new network architectures and use case trials with a specific 5G focus .”