Germany's public broadcaster, ARD, has opted to delay the implementation of the 5G Broadcast standard, a decision reached by its directors at a recent meeting in Bremen, as reported by Cable!vision Europe. An ARD spokesperson confirmed, “At present, ARD has decided against investing in the new 5G Broadcast transmission technology but still considers a future rollout possible.” They added, “The relevant specialist committees will continue to monitor the market and developments in this area.”
This decision is surprising, given ARD's extensive involvement in numerous 5G Broadcast pilot programs across Germany. These tests, conducted in regions including Saxony-Anhalt, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hamburg, and Baden-Württemberg, explored the distribution of television channels and other services via the new standard. 5G Broadcast offers the potential for data-free transmission of television, radio, and other media content via mobile networks, making it a significant technological advancement. The technology’s ability to function without data consumption, SIM cards, or mobile contracts, is a key selling point. Reception is achieved through compatible devices like smartphones, tablets, or in-car systems.
The technology's potential applications extend beyond entertainment, offering significant improvements in emergency communication during power outages or natural disasters. Utilizing high-powered broadcast towers with backup power, it ensures consistent public information and warning dissemination. While prototypes of 5G Broadcast receivers are already available, with Android smartphone compatibility projected for the first half of 2028 according to industry insights from the Fraunhofer FOKUS Media Web Symposium in June 2025, ARD's decision represents a considerable setback for the technology's immediate future in Germany. Despite this pause, ARD hasn't completely dismissed 5G Broadcast, leaving open the possibility of future adoption.