The Role of 5G in Shaping the Future of Live Video Streaming

It’s clear that live streaming and broadcasting are the future of entertainment, with more and more people adopting this way of enjoying live content. Currently, 28.5% of people worldwide use the internet to catch their favorite streams. We can freely say it’s the hottest trend in consuming entertainment, and it’s come a long way from its humble beginnings.

Live streaming began in the mid-90s, over thirty years ago. The first livestream was a concert by the garage band Severe Tire Damage broadcast over the internet by Xerox PARC. Amazingly, this took place in 1993, and even though the technology was still brand new, people couldn’t get enough of it. However, internet speeds were low, and data costs were high, limiting the spread of this new technology.

But the potential was there, and soon, companies were launching their own services for live broadcasting over the Internet. Interest in streaming kept increasing, and soon, live streaming platforms like YouTube Live, Twitch, and Dacast started popping up. Now, we’re seeing another major development with 5G streaming technology.

And that’s precisely what we’ll discuss here: the 5G impact on live streaming and video broadcasting and what it means for providers and consumers.

5G Technology: What Is It?

Almost all of us use 4G on a daily basis –  so we’re quite familiar with it. But even before that, there was 1G, 2G, and 3G – which paved the path for wireless mobile communication. Now it’s time to make space for 5G, the newest wireless cellular technology generation. It promises to improve speeds, lower latency, and provide greater bandwidth on all mobile and cellular devices.

The 5G rollout started in 2018, and almost 2 billion devices had 5G connectivity in 2024. These numbers keep growing, and 5G will probably completely replace 4G in the next few years. An Ericson study shows that 20% of 5G users prefer it over the previous iteration. Let’s make a quick comparison to understand why that is:

Why Is 5G Taking The Lead?

While there was some initial pushback, typical for any new technology, the adoption of 5G is happening fast. This is mostly thanks to the many benefits of 5G for video streaming it brings, such as:

• High-speed Connectivity: 5G has the potential for download speeds of between 10 and 20 Gbps, almost 100 times faster than 4G. These speeds allow for faster delivery of ultra-high-definition video with virtually no quality drops.
• Low Latency: Low latency streaming with 5G promises reductions as low as 1 millisecond. It can deliver near-instantaneous video streams even when streaming in high-def.
• Network Slicing: 5G creates multiple virtual networks within the physical one, lessening the burden and delivering live streams without interruptions or buffering.

Pre 5G Streaming: Live Video Streaming Challenges and Issues

Let’s say you’re preparing a big stream and expect a massive virtual attendance. Everything is going smoothly when suddenly, your audience starts complaining about lag and long buffering times. With 4G, this is more than a common occurrence, especially for broadcasting larger live events. The network sometimes can’t handle the congestion, so it starts lagging.

Another common issue viewers experience is a drastic drop in resolution. Streaming services also struggle to deliver high-quality video, especially in 4k or 8K. There is also a rising trend of attending virtual events in VR and AR. Unfortunately, the experience can’t be as immersive for audiences when what they’re looking at is pixelated and laggy.

Network congestion can drastically lower viewership numbers for live events, like sports games, concerts, product launches, and even company meetings. With 5G live video streaming, that’s no longer an issue.

The 5G Impact on Video Broadcasting And Streaming

Audiences have spoken loud and clear: they want a clean, smooth viewing experience without choppiness or a drop in quality. And they want it now, and on every device they own. 5G delivers just that. With 5G, it won’t matter if you provide HLS streaming or prefer to do mobile streaming. You’ll still be able to provide an enhanced viewer experience with 5G and the many improvements it brings.

Incredible Video Quality

Many next-gen mobile devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S series and the OnePlus, can record and display UHD 8K video. Some streamers even use their phones as their primary live broadcast setup. Unfortunately, the bandwidth limitations of 4G networks made streaming at that resolution very difficult. But that’s not the case anymore! Now, everyone can enjoy high-quality video streaming with 5G, even from mobile devices.

The impact of 5G on live video quality will also spread to more experimental technologies like virtual and augmented reality. The low latency and almost non-existent video quality loss make such interactive streams entirely possible.

Reduced Latency

When watching a live stream on any device, we have learned to expect to lose a few seconds due to occasional broadcast delays. But if these delays continue throughout the entire stream, audiences can run out of patience and leave. 5G latency in live streaming can be just 1 millisecond, thus eliminating any delays.

These reduced latency times will benefit almost all events that rely on live streaming. They are especially important for streaming massive events like concerts, gaming tournaments, and even global corporate meetings.

Increased Reliability

One of the most important 5G streaming benefits for providers is increased network stability. With 5G, the network can handle a higher volume of simultaneous streams without noticeable drops, losses, or delays.

5G can support more devices in a given area than previous generations of the technology. It has a more robust network architecture with plenty of redundancy paths for data. So even if one path does go down, the quick rerouting will prevent traffic failure.

Broadcasters won’t have to worry about their ability to handle large numbers of simultaneous viewers. The number of interruptions during high-demand events and large-scale broadcasts will be close to zero, reducing the potential loss of revenue as well.

Support for Mobile Streaming

The future of streaming with 5G lies in mobile devices. In 2023, 70% of audiences used their phones to watch live events. In addition, more and more streamers are ditching bulky streaming setups and going live straight from their phones. This is where we can truly see how 5G and live streaming go hand in hand.

Low latency platforms and high speeds will keep mobile streams smooth and prevent video and audio glitches. Even if the streamer or viewer is on the go, the 5G network will stay stable as long as there is 5G coverage, even in areas with high network traffic or when crossing from one cell tower zone into another.

In fact, mobile streaming is gaining so much popularity that streamers are starting to develop their own apps to make it easier for their audiences to listen to their broadcasts. Dacast has a handy guide that will show you how to do just that for the videos you host on their streaming platform. Alternatively, you can take a peek at our recommendation for the top 23 apps for mobile streaming.

Potential Uses of 5G Technology for Video Streaming And Broadcasting

But the rollout of 5G isn’t just good news for viewers and streamers. There are several advantages when using 5G for OTT platforms like Dacast. The platform already allows mobile streaming through its RTMP solutions, and the implementation of 5G will improve the experience for broadcasters.

With 5G, streaming is smoother and uninterrupted. Content creators and broadcasters can reach their audiences with less buffering and higher-quality audio and video output. 5G’s low latency means that interactions with live content happen almost instantaneously, whether through comments, polls, or direct engagement. With 5G, Dacast’s streaming solutions got even better.

Education and E-learning

With more and more people turning to online education and online courses, providers must provide learners with a good learning environment. That includes no interruptions during class and live streams with clear video and audio. 5G opens up new opportunities for students and educators alike, with better technical means for:

• Leading live interactive classes: With the stability 5G provides, you can lead classes that are no longer static and one-sided. You can call on any student to ask questions, participate in discussions, and receive immediate feedback, all without frustrating delays on both sides.
• Recording live lectures: With 5G’s high-speed connectivity, educators can record and share lectures in ultra-high definition without worrying about buffering or video quality. They can provide students with on-demand access to lessons and lectures without awkward cuts or fuzzy sections.
• Hosting live training sessions: Training providers can host high-quality virtual sessions with minimal lag, even for groups with participants that go into the double digits. Communication will stay clear, and participation will be easy, even when more than one attendee joins the activity simultaneously.
• Expanding attendance: 5G’s robust structure now allows you to expand attendance tenfold. You can host thousands of students internationally, and all of them will experience the same high-quality stream.

Sports and Esports

Sporting matches and games are generally the most streamed live events, with audiences in the millions. The largest sporting event on record is Netflix’s “Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul” boxing match, which has 65 million recorded concurrent streams. However, as many viewers confirmed after the match, the stream was drought-like, with dropped frame rates and difficulties tuning in.

With 5G video streaming, all of that can be a thing of the past. The ultra-low latency and fast speeds can deliver a crisp audio and video feed to each audience member, regardless of what type of device they’re watching from. The robust network architecture can support the sudden influx of traffic without crashing and causing broadcasters to lose views.

It also removes the issue of delays when switching between multiple angles to get a better view of the action. The improvements even extend to viewers who use AR or VR to watch matches, especially during eSports competitions.

Corporate Events and Webinars

Events like these usually attract a more global audience that can tune in from various devices with differing capabilities. Before, technical difficulties and connection stutters were common. With 5G video broadcasting, you can now host large-scale virtual conferences, meetings, or talks with thousands of attendees, all in 4K or higher.

Technical difficulties during high-definition presentations or speaker interaction can be avoided because 5G technology can handle large volumes of data. This opens up new possibilities for global collaboration, hosting large international events without attendance limitations, and additional features like virtual break-out rooms or real-time Q&A sessions.

Entertainment and Concerts

Other popular events that draw large virtual audiences are concerts and festivals. Taylor Swift and Elton John are notable artists who have already tried live-streaming sold-out concerts.

Festivals are also following this example, with Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Coachella providing live streams of select stages and headliners. And it’s not just the music industry experimenting with live-streaming performances. Some theaters are joining in as well in an effort to reach wider audiences. Such occasions always draw in giant online crowds, which can be a problem for older networks.

With 5G, viewers will have an immersive experience of any live performance. They can seamlessly switch camera angles for a better view or even try the 360-degree format to feel like they are watching from the first row. All of this is done without drops in resolution or audio quality and without network interruption from start to finish.

Remote Production

For broadcasters and content creators, the ability to produce high-quality content from virtually anywhere without having to carry bulky equipment or have an on-site presence is a real game changer. 5G’s high bandwidth and low latency allow real-time streaming of live events, whether a small crew is filming in the field or a massive outdoor concert.

Using 5G-enabled streaming devices, remote production teams can monitor, edit, and broadcast content with minimal delay, making live editing and adjustments. For large-scale productions, 5G allows for greater flexibility when managing different cameras, drones, and equipment connected to the 5G network.

The Challenges and Limitations Facing Global 5G Adoption

The adoption of 5G started off slow, but it’s steadily picking up steam. Predictions are that almost 3 billion people around the globe will have 5G connectivity in 2025. As of now, 128 countries have had successful 5G deployment. But that doesn’t mean that their entire territories have 5G coverage, and that’s because, like any new technology, 5G is facing a few technical hurdles:

• Infrastructure Requirements: Building the necessary infrastructure to support 5G networks is expensive. The service needs new towers, antennas, and network upgrades to be reliable. Existing 4G towers also need extensive upgrades to support 5G. These infrastructure improvements can take years to complete, especially in rural or underserved regions.
• Compatibility Issues: Many consumers and even some broadcasters still use devices that aren’t 5G-compatible. This creates a gap between what consumers are using and what they need to use to get the full benefits of 5G. Still, it’s unrealistic to expect people to change their devices en masse just to use 5G.
• Cost Considerations: Broadcasters need to invest in new equipment and infrastructure to support 5G streaming, and consumers may face higher data costs or the need for new devices.
• Regional Availability Disparities: Not all regions have the same level of access to 5G networks. While urban centers see faster rollouts, rural and remote areas often experience delays or limited access due to infrastructure challenges.

What The Future Holds For Live Video Streaming With 5G

As cliche as it sounds, the future looks bright for 5G and 5G streaming. More regions are adopting this new technology, and consumers are slowly upgrading their old devices with 5G capabilities. This is creating a whole new market for live streaming and broadcasting in ultra-high definition and seamless multi-camera streams.

The live streaming speed with 5G is unmatched, making it possible to include more immersive elements like VR and AR in your streams without any lag issues. This opens another revenue model, where providers can offer separate subscriptions or pay-per-view payment options for these functionalities.

5G: The Future Of Live Streams

The integration of 5G is already transforming consumers’ expectations of live streams or broadcasts. It offers unparalleled speeds, connectivity, and network stability regardless of congestion and traffic. It allows for a never-before-seen level of immersion at the highest resolution without compromising quality.

If providers and broadcasters want to tap into this new audience that expects this new high-level experience, upgrading their infrastructure and equipment to support 5G streaming is inevitable.

At Dacast, we offer several live streaming solutions for businesses and individuals and take advantage of our many monetization models. Try our 14-day trial free of charge and with no credit card details required, and take the first step to providing the best content to your viewers.

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