Sohonet launches FileRunner for high-speed, browser-based media file transfers

FileRunner addresses the bottleneck of large-asset distribution by removing the technical friction of local software agents. In a market where high-resolution 4K and HDR files are the standard, this move positions Sohonet as a direct competitor to entrenched UDP-based solutions like IBM Aspera and Signiant, but with a lower barrier to entry. For media and entertainment (M&E) firms, the focus shifts from managing infrastructure to rapid onboarding of global collaborators. Watch for how this affects the market share of legacy transfer tools as mid-sized studios prioritize browser-native efficiency over complex IT configurations.

The launch of FileRunner comes as the media and entertainment sector faces a dual challenge of increasing asset sizes and more distributed production teams. Per Sohonet's own market analysis from May 2026, the rise of HDR and high-resolution workflows has shifted file movement from a simple utility to a critical production risk where security and speed are often at odds. The move toward browser-native, high-performance tools reflects a broader trend in the 2026 media technology stack away from hardware-bound infrastructure and toward flexible, SaaS-based managed services.

Sohonet, which maintains an estimated $41.6 million in annual revenue according to May 2026 data from Tracxn, has been aggressively expanding its platform ecosystem through recent acquisitions and product integrations. In March 2026, the company launched Media Fabric, a unified managed infrastructure suite designed to integrate connectivity, storage, and transfer tools like FileRunner into a single pane of glass. This strategic pivot aims to address 'point solution fatigue'—a common industry complaint where fragmented tools lead to production delays and security vulnerabilities.

Competitive pressure in the file transfer space has intensified as established players like IBM and Signiant integrate AI-driven optimization. IBM, for instance, reported in June 2026 that its latest X-Force Threat Intelligence research found a 44% increase in attacks targeting public-facing applications without 2FA, validating Sohonet’s decision to include studio-grade security as a baseline feature for FileRunner. As production volumes in hubs like the UK and North America are projected to grow at a 7% CAGR through 2026 per Sohonet’s February 2025 forecasts, the demand for cost-effective, scalable transfer solutions that can handle terabyte-scale deliverables continues to outpace traditional office-oriented cloud storage.