The pace of development for 5G is increasing across the world with video maybe the key use case and now T-Mobile USA plans to wrap its next-gen comms strategy into its upcoming OTT video service.
The telco told the FCC last week in an ex parte filing that it plans to use its upcoming 5G network to bring TV, including some 4K content, to both urban and rural customers. The 5G network will deliver in-home broadband with enough throughput to rival wireline cable and telco services, the company said – and will include a TV to help it deliver a triple-play service.T-Mobile will use Layer3 TV as the core of its video service, which it acquired late last year. It said at the time that it will combine an ad-based and subscription-based model and take advantage of the content deals that Layer3 TV already has in place rather than develop original content.
However, "we're not going to give the world just another me-too copycat skinny bundle loaded with trade-offs," said T-Mobile USA COO Mike Sievert at the time. "Sure, people want great value, but they don't want to be stuck with TV on a diet."
On the 4K front, EPIX announced in August that Layer3 TV is one of its first partners to roll out its 4K Ultra HD offering. EPIX subscribers on Layer3 TV will have access to a VOD package of select Hollywood fims in 4K including Arrival, The Magnificent Seven, Star Trek Beyond, Ben Hur and Transformers: The Last Knight; and, coming later this year, films from the James Bond franchise Die Another Day, GoldenEye, Licence To Kill, Tomorrow Never Dies, Goldfinger, From Russia With Love and The Spy Who Loved Me.
