Sinclair plans wireless offload network for OTT and live video traffic

Sinclair Broadcast subsidiary ONE Media has a new deal with Saankhya Labs to speed up the development of a wireless network for offloading OTT and live video traffic. Saankhya Labs’ platform will use radio nodes (co-located with existing cell towers) and end user devices to allow wireless operators to dynamically shift video traffic onto "one-to-many" broadcast Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT) networks. The network will use 5G and ATSC 3.0 technologies. The companies said the network will improve DTT spectrum use and provide higher bitrates; introduce AI-based analytic engines for provisioning and offloading congested wireless networks; offer an improved content delivery network; and enable “hyper-local” broadcast content including datacasting, advertising and emergency alerts. The companies also said the network will use "cellularizing" broadcast architecture to enable indoor reception of DTT with mobile and portable devices.