Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica Test 5G for Live TV Production
Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica have tested how 5G technology can support live television production, working with broadcaster RTL Deutschland during a German football cup match. The trial explored how mobile networks can provide reliable connectivity for production teams, even when large numbers of spectators are using the network simultaneously.
The test took place on 1 September 2026 during the DFB-Pokal first-round match between HEBC Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund at Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion. RTL Deutschland broadcast the match live, providing a real-world environment to assess the technologies under the demanding conditions of a major sporting event.
The operators tested two approaches to managing network performance. Vodafone and Telefónica used Quality on Demand (QoD) application programming interfaces (APIs) to temporarily secure specific network quality parameters for selected production applications. Deutsche Telekom used 5G network slicing, which allows operators to configure a dedicated network environment to meet particular connectivity requirements.
The trial covered several production workflows, including communication between camera crews and reporters, video transmission from fan interviews and stadium surroundings, live commentary and real-time return feeds of the broadcast. Network slicing was also used to secure sufficient bandwidth and consistent data rates for camera feeds.
The results demonstrated that both technologies could support selected live production tasks over public mobile networks. The trial also provided insights into how network functions, devices and applications interact, particularly when transmitting video under high network demand.
The three operators provide standardised network APIs through the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative, working with technology partner Vonage, an Ericsson subsidiary. These interfaces allow developers, businesses and cloud providers to integrate selected mobile network capabilities into applications and digital services. Further development could eventually allow production applications to configure and activate network slicing directly.
The trial highlights the potential for 5G to support more flexible and mobile television production, potentially reducing reliance on dedicated connectivity infrastructure for selected workflows. The participating companies say the findings will inform further technical development and the future use of mobile networks in live broadcasting.