Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and TIM, in collaboration with Samsung and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., presented a previously unreleased live concert of singer-songwriter Max Gazzè, broadcast for the first time in Italy in LTE Broadcast technology at Expo 2015, Milan’s World’s Fair.
The Max Gazzè show was an opportunity to test the potential of new generation mobile TV that, thanks to TIM’s 4G network and Ericsson’s innovative solutions, allows users to access content live and on-demand in high definition.
For TIM the initiative is part of its innovative testing project to move the country toward the goal of full digitalization and to support the uptake of latest generation services.
LTE Broadcast technology allows users to access video and multimedia content in high definition, with an image quality of up to 4K, and allows a potentially unlimited number of mobile users to view, simultaneously, TV and audiovisual broadcasts with a single data transmission, in particularly crowded situations such as concert arenas, stadiums, open-air venues or densely populated urban areas. In addition, LTE Broadcast represents the best way to offer customers an even more evolved service, enabling them to follow several events from a single “programming” at the same time on their own tablet or smartphone.
The LTE Broadcast event extended coverage to the entire Expo area, covering 110 hectares (272 acres), where a group of trial users were able to experience the live event with superior quality, and to choose on phablets between several channels of content: the Max Gazzè live concert – organized in collaboration with TIMmusic, TIM’s music streaming platform – and TIM’s on-demand TV service from TIMvision.
This initiative will be followed by another demonstration, in collaboration with RAI, during the closing event of Expo 2015 on October 31.
Mario Di Mauro, Head of Strategy & Innovation, Telecom Italia, says: “This live trial of LTE Broadcast with an ecosystem of excellent partners shows how TIM is continuing to pursue the route of innovation to support the growth of new markets that are fundamental for telcos, such as high-definition video on the move. Active involvement in the evolution of digital services is essential for a company that wants to be a technology enabler and service provider in the distribution of multimedia content and services. LTE Broadcast technology on latest generation mobile networks represents an opportunity to offer end users a very high quality of service and a simple and exciting user experience.”
Alessandro Francolini, Vice President and Sales Director, Region Mediterranean, Ericsson, says: “With video traffic on mobile networks growing by 55 percent every year from now to 2020, operators will find themselves facing a great challenge to guarantee a high-quality audio and video experience to their subscribers, at any time in any place. LTE Broadcast is the ideal solution to optimize network resources and enable new business models for the distribution of multimedia content. For the first time in Italy, we have trialed this innovative service on a very big area, the Expo site, with very high quality levels.”
