Portugal broadcasts first Liga NOS match via 5G

Portuguese telco NOS has successfully broadcast the country’s first football match over 5G.

The match between Liga NOS champions Sporting CP and Boavista on May 11 was transmitted from Estádio José Alvalade – one of two stadiums in the country equipped with full 5G communications tech.

The broadcast was part of an overall NOS 5G demonstration, carried out between NOS, cloud-based live video solutions provider TVU Network, and A/V supplier Ibertelco. A number of TVU One mobile transmitters, the TVU Anywhere mobile app, and TVU transceivers were used to deliver live 5G video from the pitch before, during and after the events of the game.

The matchday prior, Benfica TV added seven 5G feeds to its May 6 broadcast from Estádio da Luz for the club’s tie against FC Porto. These cameras complemented the stadium’s typical 18-camera coverage, and were placed in areas not accessible with manned, wired cameras, such as near the goal netting and at a walkway at the top of the stadium.

This match’s broadcast relied on one 5G mobile transmitter and three 5G mobile phones with the TVU Anywhere app to deliver high-quality, low latency video from the field to four dual-channel TVU transceivers at an OB van on site.

Felipe Montesinos Gomes, Head of Sponsorship & Activation, NOS, said: “We are preparing ourselves for the future. With 5G, our network capacity can handle a far greater volume of data within the stadium, allowing us to offer a superior experience to fans in the stands and those watching from home. Those in the stands can choose the angle from which to see the game or activate one of the broadcast cameras, among other more immersive activities. We’re lucky to have found in TVU Networks a partner that can provide the level of transmission reliability over IP and technical support we require for such large-scale innovation.”

Rafael Castillo, VP of Europe, TVU Networks, said: “NOS is really pushing the envelope with 5G, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of such a progressive project. The strengthened bonded cellular connections, sub-second latency and increased signal quality of our technology marries perfectly with the capabilities of live sports over 5G. This is just the start of more dynamic, 5G-enabled coverage we’ll see thanks to the communications infrastructure NOS has put in place.”