Turkcell has held the first demonstration of LTE broadcast on its network, beaming content from two of Istanbul’s biggest basketball teams to fans.
Ericsson’s LTE Broadcast solution was used on the demo, which took place during the local derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray Odeabank.
Fans were able to stream HD video from four different angles within the stadium.
Ilker Kuruoz, Chief Technology Officer of Turkcell, said: “To be able to offer LTE broadcast experience, operators have to establish dedicated spectrum and make sure that this does not influence LTE/ VoLTE communication in any way. This was one of our major considerations as we acquired more spectrum than our competitors during the spectrum auction held in August.
“We will continue to be the leading provider of innovative services. Our spectrum advantage and investment in technology will ensure that we continue to provide the best customer experience, including through our OTT services such as Turkcell TV+, BiP, Smart Cloud and Turkcell Music.”
[VIDEO: Better cooperation needed to solve VoLTE issues, claims Turkcell CTO]
Rafiah Ibrahim, Head of Ericsson Region Middle East, added: “With mobile data traffic expected to grow 15 fold until the end of 2017, largely driven by video, LTE Broadcast is proving to be a vital solution for mobile providers to optimise their networks, increase efficiency and provide the best possible mobile video experience.
“This live demonstration of our LTE Broadcast solution proved that it is possible to provide a high quality and immersive stream that doesn’t just match, but can actually exceed the live viewing experience sports fans can access through current broadcast TV delivery.”
Last month, operators EE, Telstra, KT and Verizon formed the LTE Broadcast Alliance, which is aimed at fostering new business models and driving adoption of the technology.