Understanding 5G Technology

Super Bowl LIX: Did 5G Just Kill Stadium Wi-Fi? Something big happened at this year’s Super Bowl, and no, I’m not talking about the halftime show. For the first time, fans were told to turn off Wi-Fi and rely entirely on 5G. That’s a bold move. For years, stadiums have depended on Wi-Fi to offload traffic from overloaded cellular networks. But this time? No Wi-Fi safety net. Just 5G. And it worked. Fans at the stadium consumed over 67TB of data, with Verizon handling 38.1TB and AT&T hitting a record-breaking 29TB. Across the city, Verizon pushed a staggering 93.5TB—an incredible number. On average, each of the 65,700 attendees used more than 1GB of data during the event! The main driver of traffic? A massive chunk of that traffic wasn’t just people streaming the game. It was uploads, Live streams, social posts, high-res clips...fans weren’t just consuming content; they were creating it. And that’s where traditional stadium Wi-Fi has struggled. Uplink capacity in ultra-dense environments is tough. 5G, with beamforming, small cells, and mmWave, just handles it better. Verizon went all-in, deploying 509 Ultra Wideband radios, 155 C-band radios, and 42 MatSing antennas. AT&T took a different route, reinforcing the stadium’s neutral-host DAS with 91 high-power 5G+ zones, 34 mmWave radios, and 255 low-power radios covering every corner. Super Bowl LIX might have just proved that 5G is replacing Wi-Fi at major events. If telcos can build ultra-dense 5G networks that scale, why bother with stadium Wi-Fi at all? This traffic logic is not only a Super Bowl thing. Expect concerts, festivals, and packed arenas to follow. Are we watching the decline of Wi-Fi at major events?

5G is rewriting the rules of journalism. In today’s world, speed is the ultimate differentiator. For journalists, influencers, and enterprises alike, the challenge isn’t just creating content—it’s delivering it near real time, at scale, and with precision. This demo I experienced during Innovation Week at the T-Mobile T-INNOVATE Innovation Hub shows next-gen photojournalism and what’s possible: capture an image → transmit it over a dedicated 5G network slice → auto-edit in the cloud → publish directly to a website—all in just minutes. Less manual steps. Less bottlenecks. Why does this matter for leaders outside of media? Because the same workflow applies to every industry under pressure to move faster: from real-time product launches to event marketing to instant customer engagement. Automated capture-to-publish pipelines mean leaner operations, quicker insights, and stronger competitive positioning. Executives who embrace these “instant ecosystems” will set the pace. Those who wait risk falling behind as digital expectations accelerate. The future isn’t about creating more content—it’s about creating systems that move content at the speed of relevance. Learn more and see additional demos on the T-Mobile for Business social channels. T-Mobile For Business Partner #5G #Telecom #Content #DigitalTransformation #Innovation

📶 What's private 5G, and why are broadcasters using it? 🔽 I caught up with Adam Powell from Haivision at RIEDEL Communications recently to talk about private 5G and where it's useful. Officially called a Non-Public Network, private 5G gives a broadcaster or production company its own local cellular network. That typically means dedicated radio equipment and specifically licensed spectrum with access restricted to authorised devices. Public mobile networks are shared with thousands of users and optimised mainly for downloading. TV production needs almost the opposite: predictable performance and lots of uplink capacity for sending pictures from cameras. With private 5G, the network can be designed around that requirement. A camera feed is compressed and sent through a 5G modem or camera-back transmitter. The private network carries it to a local core, from where it can be routed to an outside broadcast unit, production hub or cloud environment. Because the connection is bi-directional, the same infrastructure can also carry camera control, talkback, return video and other production data. Traditionally, those functions might require several different wireless systems. Private 5G offers the prospect of bringing more of them onto a common dedicated IP network. It can also provide much greater freedom of movement. Cameras are not tied to cables, and production teams can create coverage across venues or large outdoor areas without installing a cable or dedicated connection at every camera position. Because the broadcaster controls the network, it also has far more control over capacity, contention and interference. When the BBC covered the Coronation in 2023, it deployed a private 5G network along The Mall designed to support up to 30 devices streaming high-data-rate video simultaneously. 📌 Private 5G can reduce the need for extensive cabling and give broadcasters much greater control over wireless capacity, coverage and performance at venues such as sports arenas and festivals. #Private5G #BroadcastTechnology #TVProduction #RemoteProduction #MediaTechnology #5G #CloudProduction

Back in March, I was invited by Ericsson to Long Beach Harbor to take a tech tour of their work in collaboration with Oracle and T-Mobile in enabling some really impressive live sport broadcast innovations for SailGP. The solutions they came up with are novel applications of edge computing with #5G private, network slicing, IoT, and edge AI. "SailGP is redefining sailing with the help of our partners like T-Mobile, and at this elite level of sport that demands precision — from both the athletes and from the technology behind them," said Warren Jones, SailGPs Chief Technology Officer. Here’s how this year’s 5G upgrades are transforming what fans see, how officials make calls and the way races unfold on the water: ➡️ Additional cameras for immersive broadcast footage. New camera technology will equip racing catamarans with dozens of hardened, wireless cameras and AI-enabled race markers, providing dynamic, multi-angle views of the action. Cockpit cameras capture up-close, high-intensity footage of onboard strategy and crew performance, while race mark-mounted cameras capture wide-angle, water-level shots that show the broader race dynamics and environmental conditions. ➡️ AI-enabled, autonomous buoys. Outfitted with IoT sensors and onboard instrumentation, these smart race marks collect real-time environmental and race data from all over the course. Between races, the buoys reposition themselves autonomously to adapt to changing wind and water conditions — helping ensure fair, dynamic racing while capturing more of the action for both broadcast production and officiating. ➡️ Advanced predictive AI capabilities. Predictive AI plays a pivotal role in both broadcast production and race adjudication. By analyzing millions of data points from boats and AI-enabled race marks, it not only forecasts where the most thrilling action is about to unfold — guiding cameras to capture those moments in real time — but also informs officiating decisions. All data is transmitted to SailGP headquarters in London, where race officials use it to monitor maneuvers, enforce rules and ensure fairness with split-second precision. I think this is a great example of how mobile computing will be reinvented with 5G and hybrid AI. Check out the applications and their solution architectures. They are pretty cool! #technology #nextcurve #innovation

Five By Five: Day 3 - Deployment Speed That Changes Everything 🚀 📶 🌊 This is day three of our five-day series revisiting the predictions we made in 2023 about Private Mobile Networks revolutionizing live production. ⏳ How much time did your team spend running fiber at your last live event? Hours? Days? 📶 A new Fronthaul option Private 5G is fundamentally changing how we approach signal transport on live productions. While it's often misunderstood as a backhaul replacement (that's a different conversation about LEO satellites and venue internet!), PMNs excel as a fronthaul solution—replacing fiber and SDI coax connections between cameras and production. 🏎️ Minutes vs. Days The math is simple but powerful: Running multiple long fiber runs to cameras takes hours to days, requires specialized personnel, and creates physical hazards that need management. 5G2GO approach: A complete network supporting up to 10 camera feeds can be up and running within minutes of arrival on site. ✅ Real-World Proof Points Our carry-on sized 5G2GO system has now been deployed at Times Square for New Year's Eve, MetLife Stadium for Supercross (simultaneously handling timing and wireless video), and TD Garden for Bruins games sending live fancam #video direct to the jumbotron. Each deployment confirmed what we've been saying: when production budgets are under pressure, eliminating complex fiber deployments delivers significant savings in both time and resources. See the link to our recent demo of a full #broadcast workflow over #private5G with Haivision. https://lnkd.in/e7gS43hn ⚡ The Industry Shift We're not alone in recognizing this opportunity. Verizon Business recently unveiled their portable Private 5G Network framework at NAB 2025. T-Mobile also has a private 5G offering, including millimeter wave 5G. Kudos to AT&T for recognizing the limitations of the Nokia/Ericsson systems, they've already deployed more agile systems based on enterprise private 5G technology. So, how are we different? Our solutions, along with those from other nimble innovators like Pente and Acromove, are self-deployable in minutes rather than days, with costs starting at $3,450 for a week-long rental. Democratizing the technology from something only the largest events and broadcasters could access, to a solution the entire live video industry can leverage. 🧙♂️ No RF Expert Required Perhaps most importantly, our systems don't require specialized RF expertise to deploy. If you can plug in a router, you can set up 5G2GO. What's your team's biggest pain point with traditional cable runs? Would cutting your setup time by 80% change how you approach productions? Share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for day four tomorrow, where we'll explore why cellular technology is technically superior to other wireless options for professional video transport.

Hearing all my friends, family, and coworkers talk about the NFL draft made me think about how Verizon is remaking the experience for sports fans throughout the country with our 5G network, powered by licensed spectrum. We’ve deepened connectivity in arenas throughout the country, powering the ability of fans to share every moment with friends and family. And share they do – Verizon’s inaugural Consumer Connections Report found that 8.4 million NFL fans connected to Verizon’s network at games throughout the season, making 6.8 million calls and consuming 1,662 terabytes of data. What can sports fans expect out of 5G tomorrow? Verizon recently showcased the future of sport fandom at its 5G demo day. 5G’s mix of low latency, high bandwidth, and the ability to handle massive amounts of data in real-time will be an entirely new experience to the stadium or the race track. Imagine being able to use a smartphone to watch camera feeds from your favorite F1 racers as they make their way around the Circuit of the Americas. Or using augmented reality to call up stats and track a specific player during an NHL playoff game. And fans at home may benefit from 5G-powered live broadcast editing that can bring more replays to viewers faster – a technology demoed live at this years’ NAB Show in Las Vegas.  Verizon is hard at work to bring these sorts of experiences to fans around the country. None of this innovation will work, though, without spectrum. Spectrum is the lifeblood of a wireless network both inside an arena and outside at a race track. With licensed spectrum, Verizon is able to design a network that supercharges innovation and provides an amazing customer experience. The demands on spectrum are high, however. Consumers, businesses, and yes even sports teams and leagues are looking to do more with wireless. To meet that growing need for capacity, carriers like Verizon need a pipeline of licensed spectrum to set their own plans for network deployment and expansion. And we need policymakers to commit to a real pipeline of spectrum that includes substantial investments in licensed spectrum. The future of sports, brought to you by spectrum. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eKAqhutn #NFL #5G #ConsumerConnections #Spectrum

One of the bigger shifts happening in sports right now has very little to do with the game itself. More and more, sports venues are beginning to operate like miniature smart cities. And when you really think about it, every live broadcast shot, instant replay, mobile interaction, concession purchase, and operational decision now depend on a massive layer of real-time connectivity, AI, connected systems, IoT, and coordinated data flows working simultaneously behind the scenes. At the PGA Championship, T-Mobile For Business is supporting everything from immersive broadcast production and real-time media workflows to AI-powered operational visibility and connected fan experiences across the course. What I keep coming back to is how the network itself is evolving. It’s no longer just about connectivity. The network is increasingly becoming part of the operational intelligence layer, helping teams coordinate faster, surface issues earlier, and deliver experiences in real time. I think sports environments are becoming one of the most important proving grounds for AI + 5G infrastructure at scale because they compress complexity into a live environment where timing, coordination, and reliability all matter simultaneously. Fans may never directly see most of this infrastructure, but they absolutely experience the results of it. Learn more: https://t-mo.co/4eHC1Tg T-Mobile for Business Partner #PGAChampionship #5G #AI #SmartOperations

What if your next live broadcast didn’t rely on tangled cables, crowded Wi-Fi, or telcos? That’s exactly what TV 2 Danmark has achieved—transforming their production workflows with #private5G, deployed in collaboration with Cumucore. Here’s how it’s changing the game for live media production: 📡 One antenna, total mobility – A compact setup (like a Wi-Fi access point) powers multi-camera wireless workflows across studios, OB vans & ad hoc venues. 🎥 Cable-free content creation – No more bundles of wires for live shows, press events, or sports. Just deploy, connect, and go. ⏱️ Milliseconds matter – Private 5G slashes latency from 1.5s (commercial) to under 200ms—critical for real-time storytelling. 🔐 Built-in security & control – Self-managed networks with custom traffic slicing for video, intercom, and device control. 🤖 Ready for what’s next – From AI-based network optimization to 5G-as-a-service bundled with gear, the future is flexible and in-house. As Morten Brandstrup, Head of News Technology at TV 2 Denmark, puts it: “Eventually, private 5G will be just another part of the rental kit—like a wireless mic or camera rig.” 📲 Curious how this lean two-person team is redefining media tech without telcos? Check out the full conversation with Morten Brandstrup and Mika Skarp 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVNh7F2a #PrivateNetworks #Private5G #MediaTech #BroadcastInnovation #LiveProduction #5GTransformation #Cumucore #TV2Denmark #5GRecords #NetworkSlicing #AI #RemoteProduction #WiFi

We are building a case for tomorrow's broadcast technologies. South 180 has just presented 𝟱𝗚 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲, a report commissioned by BROADCAST NETWORKS EUROPE networks on the prospects for 5G Broadcast, a new technology that promises to deliver live TV directly to mobile devices without any intermediaries. Here are some key takeaways: - 5G Broadcast is now moving beyond testbeds and limited 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀, with demonstrations across several European markets confirming that the technology's robustness. - 5G Broadcast brings the 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 of broadcasting (resilience, free-to-air, universal coverage, quality of service, no data consumption, no battery draining, greener delivery) to the device everybody has in their pockets 24/7. - 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 are mobilising to bring this technical solution to the market. - The most important 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 are linear mobile TV and public warning systems. There is also the possibility of using it to enhance the experience of events in stadiums and sports and cultural venues, for over-the-air file delivery, geolocation and drone navigation, among others. - The report identifies areas citizens and society will maximise the 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 of 5G Broadcast, ranging from European technological sovereignty and responsiveness in emergency situations to providing social cohesion and enabling local diversity, among others. Based on trends and input from stakeholders, our 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 foresees the first half of 2028 as the moment when the service will be available, as the first 5G Broadcast-enabled smartphones will arrive on the market. Population coverage and smartphone penetration will be relatively quick, while user uptake will be slower. Ongoing conversations with smartphone manufacturers are expected to result in the adoption of 5G chipsets with 5G Broadcast capabilities for the next generation of smartphones. However, several stakeholders are also asking the European Union to support this European technology by making it 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀. The reason is its ability to deliver emergency messages to phones via broadcast infrastructure that, unlike mobile phone infrastructure, does not fail in the event of a blackout. The future of 5G Broadcast looks promising, but achieving it will require strategic decisions and coordinated action at a European level. This is a new opportunity to demonstrate the power of collaboration! Link to the report: https://lnkd.in/epQYtcG8. Link to a summary of the report: https://lnkd.in/eabm8qy7. #EU5GBroadcast #5GBroadcast #broadcast #DigitalEurope #innovation

What does it take to turn a stadium visit into a fully connected, immersive experience? 🚀 Private 5G networks are helping stadiums meet rising expectations by delivering secure, high-capacity connectivity across events of all kinds. From improving safety with real-time video analytics to enabling AR-powered fan engagement and reducing cabling infrastructure, this technology supports flexible operations and opens new revenue opportunities. Use cases like point-of-sale system upgrades, remote food delivery, or enhanced accessibility features are already in play. Private 5G allows venues to adapt faster, operate more efficiently, and stay competitive in a changing entertainment landscape. The real value lies in how technology can support meaningful moments such as helping a fan see the game for the first time or connecting thousands through shared experiences. 🌐 I think it’s exciting to see how connectivity can deepen the in-stadium experience as it's about building smarter, more inclusive environments where innovation directly enhances how people connect, engage, and enjoy live events. What innovative use cases would make a live event more engaging for you? 📌 #Private5G #SmartStadiums #FanExperience #Connectivity