French broadcast infrastructure operator TDF has launched the next phase of its large-scale 5G Broadcast trial, extending coverage across several major cities as it explores the future of free-to-air television on smartphones.
The new broadcast zone covers Paris, Reims, Bourges and Le Havre, with transmission sites including the Eiffel Tower, Meudon, Mantes-la-Jolie, Le Havre-Harfleur, Bourges-Neuvy and Reims-Hautvillers already operational.
TDF says 5G Broadcast allows live television to be received on compatible smartphones without a SIM card, Wi-Fi connection or mobile data, using broadcast technology rather than conventional mobile networks.
The company says the technology complements, rather than replaces, existing streaming services by providing a single broadcast signal that can be received simultaneously by unlimited numbers of viewers. It believes this offers a resilient and energy-efficient way to deliver live television during major events or periods of network congestion while extending free-to-air broadcasting to mobile devices.
Speaking at the launch event in Paris, attended by representatives from across the French broadcasting industry, TDF Chief Executive Karim El Naggar said 5G Broadcast builds on the principles of digital terrestrial television by adapting free, universal and resilient broadcasting for mobile viewing.
He said the latest phase of the trial aims to establish the conditions for the gradual deployment of the technology in collaboration with broadcasters and industry partners.
Further expansion of the trial is planned later this year, with additional coverage scheduled for Brittany, eastern France, the Lyon region and south-west France before wider deployment continues through 2027 and 2028.
TDF says 5G Broadcast could play an important role in maintaining open and sovereign access to audiovisual services as video consumption increasingly shifts to smartphones.
Source: https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2026/06/29/tdf-expands-5g-broadcast-trial-across-france/
