Joint field trial shows how modern mobile networks support live television production

• Field trial conducted by Vodafone, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom and RTL Deutschland.
• Quality on Demand and Network Slicing used to strengthen mobile TV production at German football game.
  

Vodafone, Telefónica and Deutsche Telekom, together with media company RTL Deutschland, have conducted a joint field trial demonstrating how mobile networks can reliably support television production in the future.

During a first-round DFB Cup football match between HEBC Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund (which finished 0–5), the companies transmitted key production signals over their mobile networks by using modern 5G technologies under the demanding conditions of a live sporting event.

The trial, at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion on 1 September 2026, demonstrated how network capabilities can be integrated into television production workflows through Network Application Programmable interfaces (APIs), while meeting stringent requirements for bandwidth, latency, and video and audio quality.

At major sporting events, large numbers of people access the mobile network at the same time, which can cause congestion. For a seamless live broadcast, video and audio signals as well as supporting services need to be transmitted reliably and simultaneously – from camera footage and interview audio to connections – to enable on-site teams to monitor the live programme and coordinate with the production control room. These were precisely the requirements addressed by the joint field trial, including:

• Production team coordination: The network API facilitated stable voice communication between the production control room, camera crews and reporters.
• Mobile video transmission: It provided the necessary network quality to reliably transmit video from fan interviews, footage from around the stadium and half-time segments to the production team.
• Live commentary: The network API supported a commentary audio feed and enabled its integration into the production environment.
• Real-time return feed: The required network quality for the real-time reception of the live programme was met. This enabled production staff, reporters and camera crews to coordinate their assignments more effectively with the production control room.
• Camera feed: Network Slicing secured sufficient bandwidth and a constant data rate for the reliable transmission of camera footage.

RTL Deutschland broadcast the DFB Cup match live, providing the ideal production environment in which to test the technology approaches under real broadcast conditions. The results show that both Quality on Demand and Network Slicing are suitable for supporting selected live-production workflows over mobile networks.

At the same time, the field trial provided valuable insights into the interaction between network functions, end devices and applications, particularly in video-based workflows. The experience provides an important foundation for further technical development and future deployment in live-production environments.

At this year’s International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, the project partners reported in detail for the first time on their experiences and findings regarding the potential use of Quality on Demand and Network Slicing in future mobile television productions.