Successful live broadcast from Bosingak using T Live Caster
Stable video transmission even in crowded areas thanks to 5G characteristics
High-quality real-time live streaming is possible without specialized equipment

The sound of the Bosingak bell, heralding the New Year of 2019, was delivered to every household via a 5G network.

SK Telecom announced on the 1st that it has succeeded in the world's first live TV broadcast using a 5G commercial network and a live broadcasting solution.

SK Telecom broadcast a New Year's countdown, bell-ringing ceremony, and interviews at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around midnight on January 1st, live on its entertainment channel 'XtvN' for a total of three times over 11 minutes.
The broadcast utilized the 5G commercial service launched on December 1st and SK Telecom’s live broadcasting solution ‘T Live Caster,’ which was developed over four years.

T Live Caster enables real-time broadcasting of videos captured on smartphones via 5G, LTE, etc., to various channels such as TV and personal broadcasting. In addition to media fields such as events and sports broadcasting, it is also being utilized in video surveillance for disaster safety (Gangwon Fire Department, Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, etc.).

On this day, SK Telecom filmed the scene using a smartphone connected to a 5G mobile router. The footage was broadcast from a 5G base station to the 'XtvN' transmission system in Sangam-dong, and then to cable and IPTV viewers.

There was almost no time lag between the scene at Bosingak and the viewers. The footage was transmitted to the broadcast transmission system within one second. This is equivalent to the transmission speed of the most widely used wired live broadcasts today.

This live broadcast is significant in that it successfully delivered a stable, high-quality broadcast even in crowded areas, thanks to 5G's high-capacity data transmission and multi-connection characteristics. In the future, '5G live broadcasting' can be widely used in venues with high data traffic, such as event halls and baseball stadiums.

In addition, live broadcasting is possible with just a smartphone with the T Live Caster app installed, without the need for expensive professional broadcasting equipment, so the spread of high-quality personal broadcasting can also be expected.

When SK Telecom’s broadcasting relay technology is combined with the ultra-high speed, ultra-low latency, and ultra-connectivity characteristics of 5G, an environment is created where anyone can broadcast high-quality live anytime, anywhere.

SK Telecom plans to support innovation in the media industry, starting with the success of 5G live broadcasting. Within the year, it will upgrade the quality of 'T Live Caster' to Ultra High Definition (UHD) and pursue integration with personal broadcasting platforms. It is also planning app upgrades to coincide with the domestic launch of 5G smartphones in the first half of the year.

It is also exploring entry into the 'drone broadcasting relay market' utilizing 5G. SK Telecom signed a business cooperation agreement with DJI, the world's No. 1 drone manufacturer, last June and completed the development of a 'drone video control solution.' This solution is scheduled to be launched at 'Drone Show Korea', which will be held at BEXCO in Busan on the 24th of this month.

Choi Nak-hoon, Head of SK Telecom’s 5GX IoT/Data Group, stated, “Following 5G smart factories, we have pioneered the new field of 5G media live broadcasting first,” adding, “We will usher in an era where ordinary creators can broadcast high-quality TV-level content anytime, anywhere using 5G smartphones.”