The 5G Broadcast technology, whose standardization was completed in December 2025 (news “5G Broadcast: Rai Research Centre drives the standard development in 3GPP Release 19“),  will enable the delivery of live TV programmes to next-generation mobile phones without consuming mobile data nor overloading 5G mobile networks.

The system is based on the broadcast transmission in the UHF band (470–694 MHz), adopting principles similar to those of digital terrestrial television and leveraging the resilient infrastructure of TV distribution network towers.

This approach ensures high-quality reception even in particularly challenging scenarios, such as live coverage of of major sporting events. The same infrastructure can also be used to deliver critical information to mobile devices in emergency situations, ensuring reliable communications even when cellular networks are congested or partially unavailable.

Since 2023, Rai, together with the EBU and several major European broadcasters, supports the development of 5G Broadcast and contributes to the definition of a shared European roadmap for its implementation.

During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the UEFA Euro 2024 Championship in Germany, several trials were conducted with the aim of demonstrating the interest of the broadcasters and  fostering engagement from the manufacturing industry.

In the same year, Rai launched an experimental project to provide 5G Broadcast coverage in most densely populated Italian cities. Since November 2024, the experimental 5G Broadcast service has been active in Rome and Turin, offering continuous broadcasting (24/7) of three TV channels featuring news, music and entertainment.

On the occasion of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Rai’s 5G Broadcast offer will also include Olympic-dedicated programming through the distribution of the dedicated Rai channel.

(https://tech.ebu.ch/news/2026/5g-broadcast-trials-return-to-the-olympic-stage-at-milano-cortina-2026)