Sinclair to Build NextGen Data Distribution Core Network
April 17 2023 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Platform to Support Multiple New
Revenue-Producing Use Cases
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI), today announced
that it will build and operate an innovative and interconnected
broadcast platform to provide commercial services and solutions for
national data distribution. Using NextGen Broadcast (ATSC 3.0)
network technology, this platform is designed to provide a wireless
broadcast backbone for IP (Internet Protocol) data delivery across
the country, increasing the value of spectrum for all broadcasters
and providing an IP connection to serve their communities
better.
As an innovative distribution industry, U.S. broadcasters,
including commercial and non-commercial station operators, have
deployed NextGen Broadcast service to date across the U.S. in 69
markets covering over 60% of the country’s population. Many more
deployments are on schedule for this year. Linking those markets
and stations to allocate data capacity efficiently among potential
data customers is essential in establishing broadcasting as a
competitive data distribution platform. That is the purpose of this
Core Network.
In anticipation of providing a Data Distribution as a Service
(DDaaS) platform, Sinclair established several joint ventures and
strategic relationships with some key technology partners in the
U.S., Korea and India. Working with Sinclair, these partners are
designing, building and deploying this sophisticated DDaaS platform
infrastructure. Those relationships include CAST.ERA, a joint
venture with SK Telecom, the South Korean, global-leading,
Information Communications Technology company, which brings its
sophisticated experience to infrastructure development. SK Telecom
will be providing its advanced mobile edge computing technology,
“Petasus Media,” to the project. Sinclair will also rely on
Saankhya Labs in India, which will contribute to the broadcast Core
Network and provide wireless technology to the new DDaaS
platform.
Designed and built to exploit the uniquely efficient
“one-to-many” architecture of broadcasting, this NextGen IP data
platform will serve many diverse use cases. Those will include
large-scale software updates for “edge-heavy” industries like
Building/Industrial Automation, Automotive, and Critical
Infrastructure. Data can be accurately and seamlessly distributed
across diverse local/regional/national markets and delivered via
broadcast spectrum using low-band channels, propagating further and
penetrating buildings better than other wireless bands.
Data distribution companies or Content Distribution Networks
(CDNs) seeking a cost-efficient supplement to perform data
off-loading from traditional unicast cellular service will find
this data distribution platform to be a needed complement to their
IP data distribution tools. Spectrum providers, such as BitPath,
will be able to utilize the DDaaS platform to monetize their
spectrum in a way that is not currently possible in today’s
decentralized and unconnected TV broadcast architecture.
As an example, providers of data services to vehicles will be
able to deliver software updates simultaneously to an infinite
number of IoT devices in their smart vehicles to update software
for new functionality, infotainment, bug fixes, and navigation.
Safety updates can be delivered within hours, not days. Services
can be provided to hundreds of thousands of devices instantly and
simultaneously with no slowdowns since broadcast architecture is
not subject to cell phone network bottlenecks.
Notably, the platform is designed to enhance Advanced Emergency
Information significantly by enabling region-wide connectivity for
this critical public interest service that can provide robust
connectivity where other communications systems may fail,
especially during peak traffic times or in an emergency.
Last year’s Florida hurricanes are critical examples of the
robust broadcast infrastructure. While over 2/3 of the cell phone
network failed in and around Fort Myers during the category 4
Hurricane Ian (over 1,550 towers down), area-wide broadcast
coverage remained in service. Of the 32 TV stations serving the
Tampa market and another 14 in Fort Myers, only 5 suffered
temporary outage. All the remaining television broadcasters
blanketed the area. Interconnecting these TV broadcasters using a
data network will ensure that users with charged cellphones and
vehicles equipped with NextGen reception capabilities will have
access to evacuation routes, shelter locations, and emergency
resource locations, all of which can be conveyed in multiple
languages. NextGen Broadcast can save lives. This DDaaS network is
intended to facilitate these critical services.
The sophisticated NextGen wireless backbone will incorporate new
cloud technologies including SD-WAN (Software Defined Wide Area
Network) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) orchestration. This will
permit cooperating broadcasters to match available spectrum
capacity dynamically with users’ data needs. This platform is also
designed to allow customers’ data to be tracked, confirmed, and
billed in an effective ‘least cost routing’ manner. This IP-centric
platform will deliver committed bit rates 24/7 with no slowdowns
regardless of usage. The backbone network will also provide a wide
range of security, modulation, and coding options catering to
specific applications and quality of service needs. This data
platform can scale across various spectrum-enabled businesses
including automotive services, aircraft/drone connectivity, first
responder missions, distance learning solutions, and more.
As NextGen Broadcasting is deployed throughout the country, and
other broadcasters see the value in participating in this business,
Sinclair expects use of the platform to increase from local and
regional services available in some markets now to nationwide
services by 2024. To this end, Sinclair has created a new DDaaS
business-related unit under Del Parks, President of Technology, to
capitalize on these emerging opportunities.
Said Chris Ripley, Sinclair’s President and CEO, “Data
Distribution as a Service is the inevitable next step in the
evolution of broadcasting. It allows us to continue providing
exceptional and enhanced video programming and, at the same time,
repurpose the remaining capacity of our channels to meet the needs
of data users nation-wide on market-disrupting terms. The service
is part of our future. Building this platform is one of the
necessary and exciting steps to that end.”
About Sinclair
Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified
media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The
Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television
stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast
networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!
and TBD; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports
network brands. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple
platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program
distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of
local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website
as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at
www.sbgi.net.
Category: General
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230417005222/en/
Jessica Bellucci - jbellucci-c@sbgtv.com
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