Unlocking the Future of Live Event Streaming with 5G ONE4HDD
Christophe Burdinat, Director – Technology and Standards, Ateme
The way we experience live events is evolving rapidly, and as we push the boundaries of what’s possible, seamless, high-quality connectivity is becoming non-negotiable. The 5G ONE4HDD project set out to explore how 5G broadcast technology can enhance fan engagement, providing a reliable and scalable solution for live event streaming in high-demand environments.
At Ateme, we’ve long been at the forefront of innovation in video delivery, and working alongside our consortium partners on this DSIT-funded initiative has been an incredible opportunity to test new capabilities and assess real-world feasibility. Over the course of just 18 months, the project has taken us from technical exploration to live demonstrations at major events, such as the UK Superbikes final at Brands Hatch. The insights gained will be instrumental in shaping the future of media distribution.
The Challenge: Bringing Live Video to Every Fan
The core objective of 5G ONE4HDD was to enable a light, deployable ‘Cell on Wheels’ capable of delivering a reliable, point-to-multipoint network for large-scale events. We focused on scenarios where traditional connectivity falls short—whether due to venue size or high audience density.
A prime example is motorsport. At a race like MotoGP, fans at the circuit only see brief glimpses of the action unless there are strategically placed screens or a dedicated app streaming live footage. Our tests at Brands Hatch confirmed the appetite for such a solution, particularly in venues that lack extensive fixed infrastructure. While Tier 1 venues have invested in Wi-Fi and 5G upgrades, there is significant interest in lightweight, easily deployable alternatives like the 5G ONE4HDD solution.
Evaluating the Right Network for the Job
Delivering seamless live video to mobile devices in high-density environments requires a robust, scalable technology. Our focus was on two main approaches:
- 5G Multicast Broadcast Service (5MBS) – A 3GPP-standardised feature in Release-17, which enables efficient point-to-multipoint distribution.
- 5G Terrestrial Broadcast (LTE-based 5G Broadcast) – A more mature option that allows broadcasters to serve mobile users from their own infrastructure.
Device compatibility remains the primary hurdle for mobile broadcasting. 5MBS, while promising, is not yet supported in commercial smartphones, making its near-term viability uncertain. In contrast, 5G Broadcast is gaining momentum, particularly in Europe, where broadcasters have united under a memorandum of understanding. The large-scale trials conducted by TDF during the Olympics demonstrated its potential.
Given these factors, 5G Broadcast emerged as the most viable candidate for our live demonstrations, complementing previous work in the 5G-VISTA project, where smartphone receivers showcased the full potential of the technology. However, widespread adoption will hinge on smartphone manufacturers integrating 5G Broadcast capabilities—a development we eagerly anticipate.
Monetisation and Service Resilience: The Key to Success
Beyond connectivity, the success of 5G ONE4HDD hinges on how services are structured and monetised. The shift from traditional broadcast to IP-based distribution opens up exciting possibilities, particularly with Hybrid Adaptive Streaming (HAS) technology. This approach enables:
- Unicast Repair for Robustness – Broadcast transmissions can be lossy, especially when serving handheld mobile devices. By enabling devices to request missing data via a broadband connection, we can enhance service continuity and improve reliability, even when viewers move outside the broadcast coverage area.
- Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) – Monetisation is key to commercial viability. HAS allows targeted advertising to be seamlessly integrated into the viewing experience. While broadband-based DAI relies on server-side ad insertion, multicast/broadcast requires server-guided ad insertion (SGAI), where ad placement opportunities are embedded in the content and resolved on the client side.
- Low-Latency Video Delivery – For live sports and entertainment, minimising latency is critical. In 5G ONE4HDD, we leveraged the ROUTE protocol—originally specified for ATSC 3.0—to deliver a real-time experience while maintaining the flexibility of IP-based distribution.
Looking Ahead: Enabling the Next Generation of Live Streaming
5G ONE4HDD has provided a unique platform to explore these advanced use cases and refine our service layer. While smartphone prototypes for 5G Broadcast are still limited in their ability to support parallel broadband connectivity, we are eager to see these capabilities mature and become commercially viable.
For Ateme, this project has reinforced the importance of a flexible, scalable approach to live video distribution. The ability to monetise content through targeted advertising, combined with the robustness offered by hybrid unicast repair, will be crucial for successful deployment.
As the industry moves forward, we remain committed to driving innovation in live event streaming, ensuring that fans everywhere can stay connected to the action—no matter where they are in the venue. The future of broadcast is evolving, and 5G ONE4HDD is paving the way for a more immersive and accessible experience for all.