The Challenge:
Champions: BBC, RAI, EBU, Globo, RTE, Adapt Media, France Televisions, QTV, University of Strathclyde, Orange
Participants: Haivision, Neutral Wireless, Open Broadcast Systems, Shure, D&B Solutions, Eutelsat
The Challenge:
This project set out to explore the deployment of moving airborne private 5G (P5G) networks to enhance live broadcast production by providing robust wireless connectivity. Building on previous demonstrations on land and sea, this project aimed to extend this capability to the sky to unlock new creative possibilities and improve live storytelling.
Project Goals:
The project aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of using airborne P5G to supplement and improve existing production workflows in challenging environments. This Accelerator wanted to push the boundaries of live production and pave the way for more flexible, cost effective, sustainable, scalable, and immersive media production solutions.
Kickstart Pitch:
PoCs Results:
Three POCs were delivered to explore innovative connectivity and workflows. In Turin, Italy, a prototype light-weight radio was deployed on a tethered drone to provide coverage for video from professional transmitters and off-the-shelf smartphones. Stable streaming to the airborne cell was maintained from locations where clutter would have prevented line-of-sight to ground-based cells.
At Henley Festival in the UK, multiple production workflows were put through their paces to explore how new ways to capture content could improve storytelling. The entire 7-camera production was done over P5G, with full remote camera control and push-to-talk intercom. The cut programme feed was then wirelessly distributed to projectors across the site using the same network, showcasing how P5G can transform live production at events while simultaneously supporting essential services.
Finally, a P5G network was integrated on an Ultralight aircraft and used to provide connectivity at the Bretagne Classic cycle race in Brittany, France. In the short time of this project, a suitable aircraft and amenable pilot were found, and working directly with the manufacturer the plane was customised to accommodate an entire P5G network and onboard video processing. Spectrum access was negotiated with the French regulator and military, with a licence approved two days before the race. The plane loitered at 300–500m and successfully provided connectivity for video and audio. The streams were relayed from the plane to a production vehicle using the private network, where it was recorded and streamed to the cloud over LEO satellite. The video was also transcoded to lower bitrate onboard the aircraft and streamed directly to the cloud using bonded-cellular over public 4G/5G networks.
The presentation and showcase session video at IBC2025 includes videos and detailed results and learnings from each of these PoCs.
What’s next?
The team plans to continue testing and developing airborne P5G connectivity, as there is the potential for huge reductions in cost and environmental impact compared to existing wireless solutions. Having live video from the off-the-shelf mobile devices relayed from a plane and available to a cloud production was a fantastic result for this highly ambitious and innovative project, and hints at the creative possibilities such connectivity could unlock.
Final Proof of Concept Results
View All Additional Documents here:
Henley PoC Overview Henley PoC Workflow Bretagne Wiring Diagram Rai Drone PoC Workflow
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