5G Enables Faster and More Flexible Filming

As the digital entertainment market becomes intensely competitive, content creators need to move fast and keep costs down. In the television industry, the time and money it takes to make content is heavily dependent on where and how programmes are made. In the case of shows that are filmed in multiple locations, it can be very expensive and time consuming to install the wired networks needed to transmit the video and audio feed to the production and editing teams.

In Hunan province in China, Mango TV, a leading producer of variety shows, is using 5G to reduce these costs and increase its flexibility. Working with ZTE and China Mobile Hunan, Mango TV is trialling a private 5G solution that can wirelessly upload content at speeds of more than 550 Mbps, enabling it to capture high definition content from more than 20 sources at once. The incoming content is analysed by an edge computing engine, which detects the video and audio streams, and offloads them to an on-site live production system via its front ports.

Mango TV is using ZTE’s 5G CampSite solution, which combines 5G radio modules, backhaul units, an edge computing engine and some auxiliary equipment into a small cart that is compact enough to pass through standard corridors. If necessary, the radio mast on the cart can be elevated to a height of six metres to extend coverage over a wider area.

Employing China Mobile’s spectrum, the private 5G network connects the CampSite to the on-location cameras and microphones, while the backhaul unit can use a public 4G/5G cellular network, an Internet cable, a satellite link or dedicated transmission line to connect to China Mobile’s core network. This backhaul connection is used to transfer the signals required to get the CampSite up and running, or to enable users of the CampSite to access public services, if necessary. As all the video and audio content is processed locally, the CampSite engine reduces transmission costs and significantly lowers the time delay.

“The edge computing engine also provides functions, such as bandwidth/traffic management, eBridge, EdgeQoS, low-latency video, and self-service portal, to meet the requirements in performance, general security, network management operation and maintenance,” explains Ren Jie of ZTE. “And it supports capability openness and direct deployment of third-party apps.”

To ensure the security and reliability of the private network, the CampSite’s resources can only be accessed by pre-authorised cameras. Further, the key operational indicators of the private network are displayed on an independent screen in the live production system so that technical personnel can then monitor the stability of the solution in real-time.

The trials found overall transmission latency of the entire system was 80 ms. With “the 1D3U uplink frame structure” used for the filming, the private network was able to achieve peak upload speeds of 636 Mbps, while the average rate was consistently above 550 Mbps, which is sufficient to transmit large-bandwidth video and audio streams. In lab tests, the CampSite has processed 25 channels simultaneously, but the private network has sufficient bandwidth, in theory, to support 100 channels of 6 Mbps IP streams.

“The implementation of the wireless filming private network for Call Me by Fire has once again proved that “science and technology constitute a primary productive force”, says Kuang Wenbin of Mango TV. “This system significantly reduces the difficulty and cost of filming network construction, and saves a large amount of expenditure for the team. The wireless private network also greatly improves the flexibility of photographers, so that they can capture wonderful moments instantly. Undoubtedly, the private network benefits the audience most, who enjoy the brilliant show.”

Mango TV has also used the 5G CampSite to support the production of its Moments in Vocal Studio series. “In most cases, the CampSite can be delivered to the location specified by Mango TV within several hours, so the 5G filming private network by this CampSite can be up and running within one hour to meet the filming requirements quickly,” says Ren Jie of ZTE. When using wired connections, it can take two days to set up the cameras and microphones.

As the entire CampSite system is based on the standard 5G protocols, it is compatible with any modules and terminals that comply with the 3GPP protocols. Furthermore, the system can use the most efficient and least congested backhaul links available, whether they be cellular, wireline or satellite. That means the 5G CampSite could be a highly convenient solution in any scenario where high-speed connectivity is required on a temporary basis.

ZTE is testing how CampSite can support a variety of use cases. For example, it teamed up with the Sichuan Branch of China Mobile to deploy 5G CampSite in response to an earthquake in Shimian County, Sichuan Province. The solution was used to rapidly provide a comprehensive emergency communications system, which can be used by rescuers’ mobile phones to connect to the local emergency command centre and temporary shelters.

ZTE says multiple 5G CampSites were up and running within one hour of arriving in the stricken area, where they were used to meet the high demand for images, videos, and voice information transmission. The integrated radio antenna equipment provided people impacted by the earthquake with “4G/5G multi-frequency multi-system capacity”.

ZTE says the 5G CampSite is small enough to be deployed in places that couldn’t be reached by big and heavy emergency communication vehicles. The CampSite differs from a “traditional” dedicated UPF+MEC (user plane function plus multi-access edge computing) system in that it only requires one low power computing board, according to ZTE, which says a traditional UPF+MEC needs at least three servers, two switches and two firewalls, and generates power consumption over 3 kW, compared with about 750 W for the CampSite. Further, ZTE says 5G CampSite reduces the latency of local information exchange by 80%.

In the television sector, ZTE is now looking to deploy the 5G CampSite to support live television broadcasts, as well as pre-recorded shows, such as Call Me by Fire. ZTE is also exploring how the 5G CampSite solution can support other forms of video backhaul, eSports, concerts and industry expositions.

As the CampSite successfully completes the trials, ZTE is working with China Mobile to commercialise the solution – the two companies are likely to bundle private 5G connectivity with the 5G Campsite equipment, which could then be rented by a business for a specific project.

At the China New Media Technology Exhibition in Changsha, Hunan province in September 2022, ZTE and China Mobile Hunan unveiled the Guangmang 5G Dense Audio and Video Transmission System, which incorporates the 5G CampSite. The two companies said the system offers lower latency, higher image quality and stronger anti-interference capabilities than other transmission systems.

In future, ZTE also hopes to work with operators outside China to provide enterprises with the 5G CampSite system, together with private 5G connectivity they can use to support mission-critical applications.