5G technology is marketed as the fastest network for streaming content, downloading/uploading large files, powering robotic systems and also enabling access to artificial intelligence (AI) without latency. But many may not realize that it can also be used for TV broadcasts via 5G Broadcast.
Last week, Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI) began testing 5G Broadcast technology in Jakarta together with the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KOMDIG)I and Rohde & Schwarz. The test was conducted with the aim of modernizing the broadcasting ecosystem in Indonesia and strengthening public access to information in the digital era.
With 5G Broadcast, TVRI TV broadcasts can be watched using any device that supports the 5G network. It does not require a SIM or 5G internet data subscription, with TVRI broadcasts being watched for free like a regular TV and without the need for additional antennas as required by DVB‑T2 technology. 5G Broadcast allows data transmission to millions of devices simultaneously, which is useful for emergency communications during times of increased internet traffic, such as natural disasters.
KOMDIGI said 5G Broadcast complements and does not replace DVB‑T2 as the backbone of national broadcasting due to its wider coverage compared to 5G Broadcast.
Apart from Indonesia, 5G Broadcast has also been tested in the United States, Germany, Spain and France. In France, for example, Télédiffusion de France (TDF) has been testing broadcasts using 5G Broadcast since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
