Telstra preps nationwide LTE broadcast service

Telstra plans to launch LTE-B broadcast services on a commercial basis this year, with an aim to provide nationwide coverage in 2018.

LTE-B will be enabled in Telstra Media services as well as a linear streaming channel. Telstra's technology partners Ericsson and Expway are working to introduce a feature that allows the network and devices to automatically switch from normal cellular transmissions to LTE-B broadcast operation, by November this year.

Only certain Samsung devices are supported for LTE-B on Telstra's network. The telco did not specify which Samsung smartphones are LTE-B capable.

Apple's popular iPhone and iPad mobile devices do not support LTE-B, which could limit the appeal of the service to users.

Long term evolution broadcast (LTE-B) lessens the load on cellular networks by delivering content via single streams of data to multiple devices.

Also known as evolved multimedia broadcast and multicast services (EMBMS), the technology is attractive to telcos as it requires low additional network investment and radio-frequency spectrum to increase capacity, while giving the ability to provide simultaneous service to a large amount of subscribers.

Having trialled LTE-B since 2013, Telstra claimed a world first in January 2014 when it broadcast a T20 international cricket game in Melbourne together with Channel Nine using the 4G technology.

Telstra has since deployed LTE-B at several other large sporting events such as the NRL grand final and V8 Supercars.

The telco has teamed up with overseas companies to promote the use of LTE-B.

It formed the LTE-B Alliance in April 2016 with Verizon, Korea Telecom, and Britain's EE, with other mobile operators joining later. Several of the LTE-B Alliance members have already launched the service commercially.

Apart from Samsung, the LTE-B Alliance counts Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, and Netgear as equipment vendor members.