SK Telecom succeeded in demonstrating 5G-ATSC 3.0-based next-generation broadcasting in a car for the first time in the world by joining hands with Sinclair Broadcast Group and Harman Company.
ATSC 3.0 is an UHD broadcasting standard established by the Advanced Television Systems Committee in the United States. ATSC 3.0 can transmit high-definition images at high speed by loading images, sounds, and data into frequencies.
This demonstration is meaningful in that the next generation of telecommunication (5G) and broadcasting (ATSC3.0) technology has met and actually implemented the "In-Car Media" environment in the self-driving era and fired off a signal of its advance into the U.S. broadcasting market.
Global telecommunication, automotive, and media industries are predicting that cars will emerge as new media devices after TVs and Smartphones when self-driving era arrives and are paying attention to 'In Vehicle Infotainment (IVI)' markets. U.S. market research company Gartner is estimating that global IVI markets will be worth $270 billion in 2020.
At this year's CES, SK Telecom signed an agreement with Sinclair and Harman, the largest U.S. terrestrial broadcasters, to tap the 270 million U.S. auto market. Since then, it has formed and operated a joint venture with Sinclair and plans to supply 5G-ATSC3.0-based solutions to U.S. stations from the second half of this year.
The U.S. has a large land area, and its networks are built around big cities. Although coverage of broadcasting networks is wider than telecommunication networks, unlike Korea, DMB is not commercialized, so people outside their homes have to pay high data rates to watch terrestrial broadcasting.
A project promoted by SK Telecom, Sinclair and Harman could be an optimal alternative to this U.S. media environment.
SK Telecom linked ATSC3.0 network with Harman's infotainment system for the first time at this event and introduced two-way media services that have evolved over the past year.
In addition, SK Telecom succeeded in broadcasting real-time broadcasting of full HD resolution, which is four times clearer than current DMB image quality, on the screen inside of the vehicle.
SK Telecom also revealed that map information for vehicle navigation is updated wirelessly. Even in running cars, customers can update information on recommendation of restaurants and traffic information through ATSC3.0 network in real time.
The joint venture between SK Telecom and Sinclair will further accelerate its efforts to tap the ATSC3.0 market in the U.S. SK Telecom is planning to establish broadcasting solutions in 32 places from the second half of this year through next year with a goal of supplying ATSC3.0-based solutions to 191 broadcasting stations owned by Sinclair.
In an era of self-driving, competition for in-vehicle media services will become fierce around the world," said Park Jin-hyo, head of SK Telecom's ICT Technology Center. "SK Telecom's 5G media technology will dominate the U.S. next-generation broadcasting market and expand its global business gradually."
