Rohde & Schwarz partnered with Estonian media technology company Levira and the Estonian government to train and test nationwide emergency response capabilities using the 5G technology.
As part of the exercise a large-scale evacuation test was carried out on September 28 for which a 5G Broadcast was used to inform the public in combination with SMS alarms, TV, FM and DAB+ radio broadcast.
According to Rohde & Schwarz, a significant milestone was achieved after they were able to deliver alarms and emergency information to smartphones for the first time, using 5G Broadcast technology.
5G Broadcast is part of the 3GPP mobile standard, which will add broadcasting capabilities on top of the mobile networks. The technology uses existing TV broadcasting network infrastructure to cover large areas and reach the public.
During an emergency, 5G Broadcast enabled devices can be turned into loud alarm transmitting devices, relaying instructions, and important information from the state directly to the device holder.
According to Rohde & Schwarz, devices with 5G broadcast-enabled chipsets will be on the market in the coming years.
Levira CEO Tiit Tammiste: “5G Broadcast has shown great promise and innovative ways to instruct and inform people during crisis. We will continue to evolve Levira’s capabilities to support our partners with technology solutions in TV, Radio, and 5G Broadcast.”
Manfred Reitmeier, vice president of broadcast and amplifier systems at Rohde & Schwarz, said: “Reaching every person with life-saving information is paramount in any emergency. 5G Broadcast not only delivers text messages but is capable of transmitting voice and video content, relying on the 24/7 resilient broadcasting infrastructure, which offers even more effective and inclusive ways to update the population.”