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In this article we break down what 5G actually delivers for surveillance deployments, where the real performance gains come from, and how TelescopicMast is integrating next-generation connectivity into our rapid-deploy mast platform.

The Latency Problem with 4G

4G LTE transformed mobile surveillance. For the first time, operators could deploy a standalone mast unit in a remote location and transmit HD video without laying physical cable. But the technology came with a ceiling.
Average 4G latency sits between 30–70ms under normal conditions. Under load — at a major event, in a densely populated urban area, or during an emergency where every agency is simultaneously pushing data — that figure climbs to 150ms or beyond. For HD video streams from multiple simultaneous cameras, bandwidth contention becomes a real operational problem.

At a major sporting event like UEFA EURO 2024, where our masts were deployed across 10 stadiums simultaneously, this ceiling was felt. Operators managing 6–8 cameras per unit were competing for bandwidth with 80,000 spectators streaming, posting and browsing on the same cell towers.

What 5G Actually Delivers

The marketing numbers are well known: 5G promises up to 10Gbps download speeds and sub-1ms latency. In practice, real-world surveillance deployments won’t see the theoretical maximums — but the gains are still transformational.

Sub-10ms Latency in Live Deployments

In trials conducted with a European law enforcement agency in late 2024, TelescopicMast units fitted with our 5G connectivity module achieved consistent end-to-end latency of 8–12ms for 4K video streams — even with six simultaneous camera feeds active on a single unit. That’s roughly a 6x improvement on 4G performance in comparable conditions.

Dedicated Network Slicing

Perhaps more important than raw speed is network slicing: the ability to reserve a defined portion of the 5G network’s capacity for a specific application or user group. For public safety agencies, this means your surveillance feed can be guaranteed bandwidth regardless of what the general public is doing on the same cell network.

Deployment Realities

5G coverage is not universal. In urban environments and major event venues, 5G availability is strong and growing. In rural and remote areas — where many critical infrastructure and border deployments take place — 4G remains the primary connectivity option and likely will for several years.

AI at the Edge: The Real Benefit

The marketing numbers are well known: 5G promises up to 10Gbps download speeds and sub-1ms latency. In practice, real-world surveillance deployments won’t see the theoretical maximums — but the gains are still transformational.

With sufficient bandwidth and low latency, it becomes viable to run AI inference models on the mast unit itself — performing object detection, licence plate recognition and behavioural analysis locally — and only transmit flagged clips and metadata back to the command centre rather than raw video.

In a 6-camera deployment, this can reduce the required bandwidth by up to 70% while simultaneously increasing the actionable intelligence the command centre receives. Operators stop watching empty footage and start receiving verified incident notifications.

What’s Next

5G Release 17 and 18 introduce features that matter specifically to surveillance: improved positioning accuracy (sub-metre GPS-independent location), sidelink communication for direct unit-to-unit data exchange without cell infrastructure, and enhanced support for IoT sensor payloads alongside video.

We’re particularly interested in sidelink capability. In a multi-mast deployment — say, 12 units covering a temporary perimeter — sidelink allows the units to form a local mesh network, sharing detections and tracking objects as they move from one camera zone to the next without that data ever needing to leave the site.

Key Takeaways

1. 1

   5G delivers 6–10x lower latency than 4G in real-world surveillance deployments, not just in lab conditions.

2. 2

   Network slicing — guaranteed bandwidth for critical users — is the game-changing feature for public safety deployments.

3. 3

   A hybrid connectivity stack (5G / 4G / satellite) is essential for any platform claiming to work anywhere.

4. 4

   The biggest 5G benefit isn't faster video. It's enabling AI inference at the edge, reducing bandwidth and increasing actionable intelligence.

5. 5

   5G Release 17/18 sidelink will enable multi-mast mesh networks — a step-change for large-scale temporary deployments.

James Harlow

Head of Connectivity, TelescopicMast Ltd.

James leads connectivity strategy and product development for TelescopicMast's wireless communications portfolio. He has 18 years of experience in public safety networks and was previously network architect at a major European telecom operator.