Datacasting - Now Supercharged by 5G Broadcast

Jun 22

FROM THE EDITOR

Hello 5G Broadcast Enthusiasts,

As the demands on our communication networks evolve, so do the tools needed to deliver timely, secure, and reliable information to the public. One such tool—datacasting—is proving to be far more than a legacy feature of traditional broadcast. In fact, it’s emerging as a critical channel for public safety, education, and emergency response—and with the advent of 5G Broadcast, it’s about to get even more capable.

At its core, datacasting enables the transmission of IP-based data—videos, alerts, documents, and files—over terrestrial broadcast infrastructure, reaching devices without relying on the internet or cellular data.

While datacasting today primarily runs over ATSC or legacy systems, 5G Broadcast expands this capability dramatically. Built on the globally accepted 3GPP standard, 5G Broadcast brings all the strengths of datacasting—with the added benefits of:

Native compatibility with smartphones, vehicles, and connected devices
Lower power reception, thanks to techniques like time/frequency interleaving
Scalability at a global level, with harmonized bands like Band 108, 112, and 113
Simultaneous delivery of live video, emergency data, and files—all from the same transmission

In short, 5G Broadcast turns traditional datacasting into a modern, high-performance, mobile-ready delivery platform.

As public agencies look for cost-effective, reliable ways to reach people in moments that matter—from natural disasters and public health emergencies to education and civic engagement—5G Broadcast offers a ready-to-deploy, spectrum-efficient path forward. It provides:

Resilient, always-on infrastructure
Encrypted and targeted delivery to authorized receivers
One-to-many distribution at scale, with no added bandwidth costs

And critically, it extends the reach of public service to areas where connectivity is limited or non-existent—whether due to geography, affordability, or infrastructure gaps.

Mehul Agarwal

(Editor, 5G Broadcast Collective)

ARTICLES

The $15 Billion Broadcast Opportunity: Why Datacasting Deserves Our Attention

Put simply, datacasting uses a broadcaster’s licensed spectrum to deliver data, not just video. That same infrastructure that brings you the evening news, our favorite primetime shows and football can also send firmware updates to cars, emergency alerts to remote outposts, can help CDNs with data delivery or GPS corrections to transportation fleets and do it reliably, securely and cost-effectively.

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: June 9, 2025 to June 13, 2025

LPTV broadcasters argued (here and here) that LPTV stations should not be subject to a mandatory transition and should be able to use ATSC 1.0, ATSC 3.0, or 5G Broadcast as they determine best suited to serve the local market.

UNISOC Completed optimized to support Android 16 & 5G Broadcast

The new UNISOC Miracle Gaming Engine delivers over 20% performance gains and reduce power consumption by more than 20%, with up to 85% less frame drop for a flagship-level gaming experience. UNISOC chipset platforms can support 5G broadcasting capabilities, enabling users to enjoy broadcast TV services without data consumption.

Enhancing Public Safety: The Evolution and Impact of Datacasting

Broadcast Did you know that broadcast datacasting, which started with closed captioning, now plays a vital role in public safety and emergency communications? SpectraRep, an affiliate of BIA, has pioneered datacasting and is developing a nationwide wireless network for public safety, emergency management, remote learning, and more.

AsiaTech x Singapore, 2025, 02: Future of Broadcast

Broadcast Networks Europe underscored the strategic importance of terrestrial broadcasting and Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) as an open, universal and accessible platform. They emphasised that DTT plays a vital role in:

ensuring free and equal access to news, cultural and entertainment content;
promoting social and territorial cohesion by reaching areas underserved by other platforms;
supporting technological sovereignty and resilience, particularly in times of crisis;
offering a sustainable and energy-efficient model that upholds media pluralism and diversity; and
serving as an innovative foundation for developments such as UHD, Hybrid TV (HbbTV) and 5G Broadcast.

EVENTS