Press Releases From the Broadcast Solutions

Project partners Kathrein and Rohde & Schwarz have reached two important milestones of the 5G TODAY research project: Kathrein completed an innovative antenna for test operation at BR’s transmitter site in Ismaning near Munich. In addition, a Rohde & Schwarz transmitter successfully went into operation at Bayerischer Rundfunk’s (BR) Wendelstein transmitter station. The specially developed Kathrein antenna and the high-power transmitter are part of the LTE Broadcast test transmission.The 5G TODAY project is funded by the Bavarian Research Foundation and led by the Institute for Broadcasting Technology, IRT. Further project partners are Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) and Telefónica Germany.

The 5G TODAY research project has reached an important stage: Franz Josef Pschierer (CSU), State Minister in the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Technology, has handed over the Bavarian Research Foundation’s grant notification during a meeting at Kathrein. The project is headed by the Broadcast Technology Institute. Kathrein and Rohde & Schwarz are project partners. The project is also supported by Telefónica Deutschland and the Bayerische Rundfunk. As part of 5G TODAY, a 5G test site is being set up in the Bavarian Oberland combining large and small transmitter cells to distribute identical media content simultaneously – and therefore more efficiently – to many recipients.

The private radio provider Hitradio antenne 1, whose headquarters are in Stuttgart, has equipped its Langenburg antenna system with the Kathrein Smart Monitoring system. Now it can detect technical problems in real time and react to them immediately. Antenne 1 plays a pioneering role in the project. The radio station operates its own antenna system at the Langenburg site and implements an innovative operating concept by using Kathrein Smart Monitoring.

Kathrein is one of the partners in the research project 5G-Today. Together with Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR, Bavarian Broadcasting), the German broadcast technology institute IRT, Rohde & Schwarz and Telefónica Deutschland, the company looks into the issue of how 5G technology can be used for the transmission of broadcast content. In the Bavarian Oberland, a 5G test field will be developed, in which the broadcast mode FeMBMS (Further evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) will be tested. The aim is a large-scale and economical television programme distribution on all devices.

Kathrein presents its extensive portfolio in the field of broadcast technology at the IBC in Amsterdam. In addition to powerful and flexible antenna solutions, the company offers unique expertise in project planning and implementation. The International Broadcasting Convention is regarded as one of the world’s leading trade fairs for film, radio and television. This year it takes place from 15 to 19 September.