Four of the largest independent local broadcasting groups in the US have come together to form EdgeBeam Wireless – a joint venture created to provide wireless data services to a wide range of businesses and industries across the country.
They are the E.W. Scripps Company, Gray Media, Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Inc. and Sinclair, Inc.
Using the broadcasters’ existing ATSC 3.0 facilities to deliver data has immediate applications for industries that need to send data to multiple customers, often in real time.
Among EdgeBeam’s potential applications are automotive connectivity, content delivery networks and enhanced GPS
The partnership is pitched as creating a spectrum footprint that no individual broadcaster could achieve on its own, unlocking the potential of ATSC 3.0 to offer nationwide coverage for data delivery to billions of potential devices on market-disrupting terms. EdgeBeam anticipates partnering with other broadcasters for additional capacity to offer truly nationwide services. A national ATSC 3.0 footprint could also allow broadcasters to provide a complementary backup to existing GPS capabilities in the event GPS satellites were subject to interference – helping to secure the US economy.
“The launch of EdgeBeam Wireless is the culmination of many years of technological advancement, market development and, importantly, recognition by government regulators of the expanded services local broadcasters can provide through ATSC 3.0 technology,” said Scripps President and CEO Adam Symson.
