NAB Forms Merkhet Solutions to Commercialize Broadcast Positioning System
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has launched Merkhet Solutions to commercialize the Broadcast Positioning System (BPS). BPS is a GPS-independent technology that utilizes ATSC 3.0 infrastructure and existing U.S. broadcast towers to deliver precise time and location signals. The new company will focus on deploying BPS in critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, telecommunications, data centers, and financial services, providing a terrestrial alternative or complement to satellite-based GPS.
Key Takeaways
- Merkhet Solutions was formed by the NAB to commercialize its patented Broadcast Positioning System (BPS).
- BPS is a GPS-independent technology that utilizes ATSC 3.0 broadcasts and existing U.S. broadcast towers for precise time and location signals.
- The system is designed for critical infrastructure, including energy, telecommunications, data centers, and financial services.
- NAB conceived BPS in 2021, demonstrated it in 2022-2023, and secured a 2025 NIST peer review comparing it favorably to GNSS for time transfer stability.
Why It Matters
The formation of Merkhet Solutions signifies a concrete move by broadcasters to monetize their ATSC 3.0 infrastructure beyond content delivery. By offering a terrestrial, GPS-independent positioning system, the initiative directly addresses federal mandates to reduce sole reliance on satellite navigation. This creates a potential new revenue stream for local stations utilizing NextGen TV technology. Streaming sector players should monitor Merkhet's success in onboarding critical infrastructure clients, as it could validate new business models for ATSC 3.0 and incentivize further investment in broadcast signal capabilities that intersect with broader technological resilience needs.
Read full article at tvnewscheck.com
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