Live Broadcasting Through Smartphones
SK Telecom announced on Jan. 1 that it has succeeded in live TV broadcasting using its 5G commercial network and streaming solutions for the first time in the world.
The mobile carrier broadcast the New Year's countdown and bell-striking at Bosingak, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the entertainment channel XtvN three times for 11 minutes in real time before and after midnight on Jan. 1.
For the live TV broadcasting, the company mobilized its 5G mobile service, which was launched on Dec. 1 last year, and the “T Live Caster,” a streaming solution that it has developed after four years of R&D.
T Live Caster supports real-time broadcasting of videos filmed using a smartphone connected to a 5G mobile router on various channels such as TV and personal broadcasting through 5G and LTE. It is used for video services in such fields as disaster and safety as well as broadcasting of events and sports games.
There was almost no time delay between filming at Bosingak and TV streaming. The filmed videos were transmitted within one second to the broadcast transmission system. This transmission speed is the same as that of the most commonly used wire-based live broadcast systems.
T Live Caster is expected to diffuse high-quality personal broadcasting as it enables live broadcasting through smartphones without using expensive broadcasting equipment.
“Anyone can enjoy high-quality live broadcasting anytime, anywhere by using SK Telecom's broadcast relay technology and 5G's ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency, and ultra-connectivity,” the company said.
The company also plans to enter the drone broadcasting market using 5G. In June last year, SK Telecom signed a contract with DJI, a global drone maker, and completed the development of a drone video control solution. The solution will be released at Drone Show Korea to held in BEXCO, Busan on Jan. 24.