Harmonizing ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast: A New Business Opportunity

At the NAB NY Show in early October 2025, DigiCAP and Castanet 5G (C5G) showcased something the broadcast industry has been theorizing about for years: seamless integration of 5G Broadcast into ATSC 3.0 infrastructure.

In a private demonstration, we at DigiCAP helped C5G insert 5G Broadcast frames directly into the gaps generated by an ATSC 3.0 modulator. This wasn’t a hack or workaround—we used the very mechanisms ATSC 3.0 was designed to support: the bootstrap signal and the min_time_to_next property.

Why This Matters

ATSC 3.0 was architected with forward compatibility in mind. The standard explicitly accommodates new protocols through its timing properties. What we demonstrated was that this design principle actually works in practice.

By leveraging the natural gaps in ATSC 3.0 frame timing, we multiplexed 5G Broadcast frames without disrupting the primary ATSC 3.0 service. The yellow frames (ATSC 3.0) and green frames (5G Broadcast) coexist on the same infrastructure, sharing spectrum efficiently.

The Technical Approach

The key was respecting ATSC 3.0’s bootstrap structure. The min_time_to_next property tells receivers when to expect the next frame. We used those intervals to inject 5G Broadcast data, maintaining perfect synchronization.

This isn’t theoretical anymore. The demo proved that broadcasters can deploy 5G Broadcast capabilities without replacing their ATSC 3.0 equipment—just smart integration.

What’s Next?

This demonstration opens doors for broadcasters to leverage both standards simultaneously. Imagine delivering traditional broadcast content via ATSC 3.0 while providing targeted, mobile-optimized streams through 5G Broadcast—all from the same transmitter.

The infrastructure is ready. The technology works. Now it’s about deployment strategy.

P.S. For more details about Castanet’s broader 5G Broadcast strategy and market positioning, see Jeff Baumgartner’s coverage in Light Reading: “Castanet Takes Aim at 5G Broadcast”.