CMG Achieves UHD Shallow Compression Coding and Real-Time Production with 5G-A CampSite

Ultra-low latency and ultra-large bandwidth are crucial for the new media industry’s real-time production of ultra-high definition (UHD) shallow compression video services. Wired transmission is conventionally used but proves inconvenient due to cost, network construction, and event response challenges. At the Hangzhou International Expo Center, China Telecom and ZTE introduced a 5G-A CampSite, establishing a wireless UHD shallow compression coding and real-time production system for China Media Group (CMG). This system can provide virtual co-hosting video service applications with ultra-low latency and ultra-large bandwidth based on JPEG-XS shallow compression. The service demonstration at the expo center received high praise from China Telecom and CMG leaders, showcasing ZTE’s robust technical capabilities and agile market responsiveness.

The 5G-A CampSite uses millimeter-wave frequencies with large bandwidth and low latency characteristics for the air interface technology to upload and download video data. It utilizes ZTE’s innovative NodeEngine, the industry’s first base station with built-in computing engine, to identify and distribute video data. The data is then offloaded separately to CMG and China Telecom’s local data networks, ensuring seamless connectivity between their exhibition booths. A local video server merges and composites real-time videos, transmitting them back to on-site screens through the CampSite’s air interface. This achieves the continuity and display of the entire broadcast, allowing hosts from different booths to appear on the same screen and interact. Additionally, real-time video merging avoids the use of traditional green background solutions, enhancing versatility in various environments for practical live broadcasting. The NodeEngine, as the built-in computing engine, adopts a direct offloading solution within the base station, eliminating the need for detours to UPF in traditional private network services. This significantly reduces the transmission path, simplifies the network structure, decreases transmission latency, and ensures network reliability.

The NodeEngine computing engine deployed this time not only supports video data identification and distribution but also incorporates a simplified core network function known as 5GCCP. This deployment liberates the production and broadcasting network at the Hangzhou International Expo Center from the cumbersome process of remotely connecting to the core network required by conventional private networks, preventing business interruptions caused by link failures. Moreover, while NodeEngine identifies business types, it can also analyze the QoS requirements through its intelligent algorithm. By deploying various scheduling strategies, it ensures optimal business QoS performance, greatly simplifying operational challenges related to card management and network maintenance that may arise during the video production and broadcasting process.

The 5G-A network capabilities, characterized by large capacity, high reliability and low latency, serve as the core driving force behind CMG’s UHD shallow compression coding and real-time production technology. This meets the requirements of 4K video 1:8 (8K video 1:32) shallow compression large uplink services and virtual co-hosting services. The system operates smoothly and reliably for a long time with no packet loss, meeting the higher requirements of video shallow compression production and broadcasting compared to traditional deep compression. It requires ultra-large uplink bandwidth (4K@50P 1:8, 1.1G), ultra-low latency (end-to-end 100 ms), and transmission stability (no packet loss during transmission). The successful demonstration offers insights and reference for the future evolution of wireless production and broadcasting studios, providing valuable scenario validation for the industry.

During the demonstration, the camera achieved end-to-end business transmission through the encoding and decoding box connected to customer premises equipment (CPE). Leveraging world-leading 5G-A commercial terminals, the CPE supports ultra-large bandwidth transmission modes, meeting the transmission requirements of nearly 1.1 Gbps for UHD shallow compression video uplink. Additionally, 5G-A also provides downlink channels for real-time demonstrations of low-latency virtual co-hosting videos.

As the core equipment for the demonstration, the 5G-A CampSite, a minimalist and mobile coverage solution jointly launched by China Telecom and ZTE, comprises a small cart, an equipment cabinet, and the radio frequency (RF) part. It serves to establish network coverage for temporary needs. The showcased live video transmission and processing, a common business application, jointly demonstrated by CMG and China Telecom, caters to real-time, mobile, high-bandwidth, and low-latency scenarios in new media. The demonstration utilizes a millimeter-wave solution with an 800 MHz bandwidth for RF. The CMG booth, equipped with the A9825 macro base station, achieves an uplink measurement exceeding 2 Gbps and a network RTT latency of less than 4 ms, showcasing superb performance.

In the China Telecom booth, the MiCell indoor distributed RF unit demonstrates flexible capabilities of RF equipment in diverse scenarios. Utilizing industry-leading distributed architecture and intermediate frequency pooling technology, MiCell is compact, lightweight, and versatile for deployment on poles, walls, and ceilings. Supporting both horizontal and vertical installation, it caters to various indoor scenarios. Moreover, MiCell employs multi-array antenna technology, allowing flexible beam coverage through software configuration, enhancing coverage capabilities.

The 5G-A CampSite at the Hangzhou International Expo Center significantly highlights 5G-A network capabilities in advancing new media technology. It showcases robust network capabilities and reliable 5G-A application solutions, delivering an excellent UHD experience. ZTE, in collaboration with China Telecom and CMG, will further promote the development of video services using 5G-A technologies, offering enhanced business experiences to audiences in the future.