These are two proposals for “Data-Free Mobile Live TV” via 5G/6G networks.
These ideas are free (open-source style). Any individual or body may use or develop them without permission.
N.B.
This topic is written here in two styles of writing:
The first writing style uses simple, easy-to-understand language (for lay people—the usual blog readers).
It is then rewritten in a professional or technical style, which better suits bodies or parties that might show interest in either of the two proposals.
How would this work?
Live TV channels would be available to smartphones via a dedicated slice of the 5G network, which would be fully isolated from the ordinary internet network.
No on-demand watching = no network congestion:This network is for LIVE broadcasting only (meaning the same set of data is emitted to all at any given moment).
N.B.
On-demand watching would continue to run on the ordinary internet network slice as usual, not on the new “Live-TV 5G network slice.”
The service would be free of charge regarding data consumption (this is the key point):
FTA channel watching would remain fully free, as it is now.
For paid TV services, the user would only pay (subscribe) for the scrambled live material, as is the case now—with no data consumption cost.
THE ADVANTAGES:
Free TV watching on the go would run on phones as easily as listening to FM radio (i.e., it could run with no data plan or even a SIM card).
At the device level: the RECEIVE-ONLY MODE would save around 40–60% of phone battery usage.
At the user level: on-the-go watching would be a Real Joy.
On-the-go watching would become a growing, widespread, routine experience.
Unleashed spikes in viewership rates would promote greater success for the experience.
At the TV operators’ level, this would lead to significant revenue growth due to increased advertising and/or subscriptions.
Some of this “extra money” might be redirected to the 5G infrastructure operators in a win-win strategy via the B2B2X (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer) model, helping this new system to sustain and succeed.
Users might no longer need roof antennas (dishes) or receiver devices, as these would be replaced by a simple mobile app.
Users might mirror or cable their phones to large screens at home.
How would this differ from current live TV watching on YouTube, for instance?
The differences are:
Data would be free of charge in this new system. Live TV watching could run on a cell phone without a data plan, or even a SIM card (making it as easy as listening to FM radio).
The receive-only data mode on phones would save much battery usage—about half, or even up to 60%.
Remarkably less network bandwidth consumption, as one set of data is broadcast to all at any given moment (meaning no network congestion could occur).
Accordingly, live TV channel operators, whether offering FTA or scrambled live services, would support free-of-charge TV data access.
Users would have to pay only for subscriptions to scrambled content (as is the case now), but not for data usage.
How could this idea be executed practically?
Two proposals are presented here:
Proposal 1
A considerable slice of the terrestrial 5G network would be dedicated to live TV broadcasting, within a specific frequency range, allowing mobile devices to receive live channels free of charge in terms of data usage.
The money that TV networks currently pay to satellite companies—or most of it—would be redirected to 5G operators.
This would be in their favor in the long run.
Nevertheless, the current satellite TV broadcasting system may continue to operate, especially in remote areas such as forests, deserts, and mountains—a situation similar to the coexistence of landline and mobile phones today.
Proposal 2
Instead of allocating a huge slice of the 5G network to replace the satellite system and broadcast live TV channels to the entire world population, a hybrid system might be a better and more cost-effective choice.
It would work as follows:
The satellite broadcasting system would continue running as the principal core of the system.
BUT, 5G towers would be equipped with receiving antennas to gain access to the live broadcast of a group of channels (not all) that are popular in a given local region, and then broadcast them to nearby cell phones via a dedicated, small slice of the 5G network (free of data charge).
That slice, in this case, would be much smaller than the one needed in Proposal 1.
In addition to the advantages mentioned in Proposal 1, Proposal 2 would have the following extra advantages:
A much smaller network slice would be required, due to the smaller number of channels served in each region and the short broadcast range (local or regional service).
Much lower infrastructure setup costs, because this hybrid design relies mainly on the already existing satellite broadcasting system, and because the 5G TV network would accordingly function only as a regional distribution terminal (or bridge) to stream live content to nearby mobile phones.
That 5G slice would not be a cross-country, intensive live TV network carrying hundreds or thousands of channels everywhere, as in Proposal 1.
This hybrid configuration would allow easy startup and easy testing (and evaluation) of the new system.
It would also allow gradual, planned expansion of the service.
According to all the above, this system will succeed, become widespread, and serve as the primary means of live TV access.
A White Paper outlining the technical, economic, and structural dimensions of the proposals is at this page:
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The professional form:
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LIMITLESS, DATA-FREE, AND EFFORTLESS ON-THE-GO TV CONSUMPTION
Two Complementary Proposals
Proposal 1
A Dedicated Terrestrial 5G/6G Broadcasting System for Live Television
This proposal introduces a new paradigm for television broadcasting and reception.
The conventional satellite-based TV broadcasting model could be partially or largely replaced by a terrestrial broadcasting system built on 5G/6G (or future generations) mobile networks. This system would operate through a dedicated and fully isolated network slice, separate from the public internet slice—similar in principle to how banking, governmental, or military networks operate today.
Key Concept
Access to live television channels would be free of charge with respect to data consumption.
In practical terms:
Free-to-air (FTA) television channels would remain completely free, exactly as they are today.
Pay-TV services would continue operating under their existing subscription models, where users pay only for content access—not for mobile data usage.
Cost and Efficiency
From an operational standpoint, this broadcasting model would be more cost-efficient for operators in the long term compared to current systems. This is primarily because:
A single, synchronized data stream is broadcast to all users simultaneously.
Unlike on-demand streaming, the system does not require individualized, high-bandwidth data sessions per user.
The broadcasting logic mirrors traditional satellite transmission: one stream, many receivers.
On-demand services (both free, such as YouTube, and paid, such as Netflix) would continue to operate over the conventional internet slice, unaffected by this model.
Business and Revenue Model
Under this framework:
Live TV broadcasters (both FTA and subscription-based) would collectively support and finance the data-free live TV access layer.
Consumers would pay only for content subscriptions where applicable, exactly as they do today.
Funds previously paid by broadcasters to satellite operators would be redirected toward companies responsible for building and operating the new terrestrial 5G/6G TV broadcasting infrastructure.
In parallel, users would gain free access to live TV data.
User Experience
Live TV access on mobile devices would become as simple and immediate as listening to FM radio:
No data charges
No SIM card required
Instant access
Users could watch directly on smartphones or mirror/cable the content to larger TV screens.
Coexistence with Satellite TV
The existing satellite broadcasting infrastructure would not necessarily be eliminated. It would remain particularly relevant for remote or sparsely populated areas (forests, deserts, mountains), resulting in a hybrid ecosystem—similar to the current coexistence of landline and cellular telephony.
Core Advantages
This system—regardless of its final technical configuration—offers several major benefits:
A. Live TV becomes a seamless, routine, and truly “on-the-go” experience.
B. Viewing rates are expected to increase significantly due to mobility and ease of access.
C. Higher viewership directly translates into increased revenues for TV networks through advertising and/or subscriptions.
D. A portion of these revenues can be redistributed to infrastructure operators under a B2B2X (Business-to-Business-to-Consumer) model, ensuring sustainability and a mutually beneficial ecosystem.
Comparison with Existing Live Streams on Platforms like YouTube
This system differs fundamentally from current live streaming services in several key aspects:
Zero data cost for the end user.
Significantly lower network traffic, as a single broadcast stream serves all users simultaneously—eliminating congestion risks.
Receive-only mode on smartphones dramatically reduces power consumption, potentially saving 50–60% of battery usage.
Live TV reception would function even without a SIM card.
Market Adoption Outlook
Based on these characteristics, this system is expected to:
Achieve wide adoption
Scale rapidly
Be embraced by the entire live TV ecosystem, including both free-to-air and encrypted channels
Direct Benefits for Consumers
Simple, effortless, and truly free on-the-go TV viewing.
No need for rooftop satellite dishes or dedicated TV receivers.
All functionality consolidated into a single mobile application.
Additional System-Level Benefit
A potential secondary advantage is the reduction of satellite congestion in Earth’s orbit, as part of the broadcasting load shifts to terrestrial infrastructure.
Proposal 2
The Hybrid Satellite–Terrestrial Model (The Efficient “Edge Slice”)
Instead of deploying a large nationwide broadcasting slice, this model proposes using small, localized 5G slices at individual tower sites.
How It Works
Each 5G tower is equipped with a satellite receiver.
The tower pulls the most popular TV channels directly from satellites.
These channels are then re-broadcast locally using a lightweight, dedicated 5G slice.
Why This Model Excels
Ultra-Efficient:
Only content that is actually popular within the local community is broadcast, potentially reducing network capacity usage by up to 80%.
Cost-Effective:
The global satellite infrastructure serves as the backbone, while 5G towers act as the last-mile delivery mechanism to smartphones.
True Mobility:
Users retain all core advantages:
Free data
No SIM requirement
Reduced battery consumption
All while maintaining a congestion-free mobile network.
A detailed White Paper outlining the technical, economic, and structural dimensions of the proposals is at this page:
