EBU calls for an open and interoperable 5G technology platform

With the European Commission preparing a 5G Action Plan for September, EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot took part in a roundtable discussion with Commissioner Günther Oettinger in Brussels on 7 July to present the views of Europe’s public service media.

EBU President Jean-Paul Philippot said: “We believe that 5G could offer many opportunities for public service media and their audiences. Our ambition is to enhance our relationship with EU citizens and enrich viewer experience. At the same time, we strive to improve the efficiency and agility of our production processes. With this aim in mind, the EBU is willing to contribute to the development of an open and interoperable 5G technology platform.”

Philippot added: “Audiences should benefit from 5G with quality of service and easy universal access to content of public value without needing to pay recurrent charges (i.e. free-to-air). EU 5G policy should support the development of an open and interoperable technology platform.

“It should be a vehicle towards cooperative use of broadcast and broadband infrastructures. As for all distribution networks it is crucial for costs to be transparent, predictable and affordable to ensure that funds are mainly devoted to content.”

EBU Members’ programmes and services have already contributed to the demand for fast and superfast broadband and to the adoption of new consumer technologies. If 5G developments support the whole audiovisual value chain, from content creation to multi-device distribution, public service media programmes and services could play the same role in the adoption of 5G.

Every year, public service media invest EUR 16.6 billion in content in the EU. Their programmes reach 330 million EU viewers every week.