Undersea cable diversification and wireless emergency networks aimed at ensuring uninterrupted live coverage
LG Uplus is strengthening its ultra-reliable international transmission infrastructure for live broadcasting of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to begin in June, as global broadcasters prepare for one of the world’s largest live media events.
The company said Sunday that it will provide dedicated international broadcast transmission lines to Korean broadcasters during the tournament, which will be hosted across North America. LG Uplus previously supported global sports broadcasting operations for events including the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics and the 2024 Paris Olympics, building experience in large-scale international transmission services.
Live international sports broadcasting presents major technical challenges because video signals must travel thousands of kilometers through undersea cable networks. Unexpected incidents such as cable damage, power outages, or network congestion can directly affect real-time broadcast quality. During globally watched events like the World Cup, even a few seconds of interruption can significantly impact viewer experience.
To reduce such risks, LG Uplus said it will operate six separate transmission routes across an approximately 14,000-kilometer network connecting Dallas, Texas — home to the International Broadcast Center (IBC) — with broadcast facilities in South Korea.
The company expanded the number of available routes compared with previous international sporting events, allowing traffic to be rerouted immediately if a failure occurs.
The transmission infrastructure is divided into two main pathways. Four circuits connect Dallas to LG Uplus’ Anyang broadcasting center via Los Angeles and Pacific undersea cable networks, while two additional circuits travel through San Jose and Los Angeles before reaching the company’s Bangbae facility in Seoul.
LG Uplus explained that it intentionally excluded Middle East-linked transmission routes due to rising geopolitical risks, instead focusing on Pacific-centered pathways to improve stability and reliability.
After arriving in Korea, broadcast content is distributed simultaneously between the Anyang and Bangbae facilities. The dual-site redundancy system is designed to maintain uninterrupted service even if one location or piece of equipment encounters problems.
The company also upgraded its video quality protection technologies. LG Uplus applied “Hitless Protection” technology, which continuously analyzes all transmission lines simultaneously and automatically switches traffic to a healthy route the moment an abnormal signal is detected.
The system is designed to reroute data before viewers can recognize any interruption on screen, helping maintain seamless live broadcast quality.
Additional emergency backup systems are also being prepared. LG Uplus said it will utilize the SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) protocol, an internet-based video transmission technology capable of delivering stable broadcast signals even through public internet networks.
The company is also preparing Mobile News Gathering (MNG) equipment using local wireless communication networks, enabling emergency video transmission even under worst-case scenarios.
Operational support is being expanded as well. During the World Cup, LG Uplus plans to operate a 24-hour integrated monitoring system centered at its Anyang facility.
The company will deploy four on-site personnel in Dallas and 18 dedicated staff members in Korea to maintain real-time response capabilities throughout the tournament. LG Uplus also said it has established constant collaboration channels with overseas telecom operators to enable immediate action in case of network failures or service disruptions.
