IBC2024 Tech papers: Sub-6GHz 5G Slicing on Public Networks - Field Results, Observations and Roadmap to Ubiquitous 5G Access for Professional Media

Abstract

Spanning a period of over 24 months, telecommunications and broadcast services provider Telstra has conducted multiple trials alongside national broadcasters and sports producers, exploring the use cases, workflow, viability, and efficacy of advanced slicing techniques on the public sub-6GHz 5G network. These trials covered major events, live sports, and other similar contribution use cases and demonstrated the positive impact of slicing on feed stability and availability, particularly in areas of high network congestion. This paper examines the technical details of trials following the evolution from LTE QCI-driven prioritisation and scheduling, through the impact of Radio Resource Scheduling, and the realisation of slicing through the User Equipment Route Selection Policy.

Introduction

Ever since the “first generation” of public cellular networks, there has been a clear role and requirement for carriers to provide differentiated services, utilising scarce spectrum and infrastructure for as many varied use cases as possible. Emergency services, government communications and critical media have driven the need for ultra-reliable real-time communications over common radio infrastructure, leading to radio trunking platforms such as Project 25, Trans-European Digital System (TEDS), Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) and Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) (1). With packet switched 4 th generation networks able to prioritise and schedule resource dynamically according to need, spectral efficiency not only increased dramatically but per-service Quality of Experience did at the same time. 

The fifth generation of cellular networks (5G) has had significant interest from the professional media industry, as the promise of fast, ubiquitous, uninterruptable connectivity can revolutionise a broadcast workflow both technically and commercially. On this subject, IBC and Caretta Research recently released the State of 5G for Broadcasters study (2), which questioned the maturity and reliability of public network. The move to 3GPP Release 16 and 5G Standalone has taken significant time and expense for major carriers, and as the same report states: people in the content creation and distribution industry need solutions that are “turn on and go”, which requires a sustained level of communication and collaboration between broadcaster and carrier.