LTE broadcast: viable business models begin to emerge

LTE broadcast has so far failed to achieve success, despite having been implemented in several markets, such as South Korea, since 2014. However, there has been renewed interest in this technology, which has stemmed from three main developments. First, 5G is becoming operational, which brings with it network improvements and, in turn, improved feasibility of LTE broadcast. Second, LTE broadcast has become more appealing as a mitigation measure to lessen the burden on individual cell sites with high network traffic levels. Third, there is an opportunity for the technology with regard to the growing potential of in-vehicle entertainment – the prospect of capturing audiences in a new environment is enticing, particularly for broadcasters.