Spatial intelligence firm Rypplzz and broadcast innovator Castanet Corp. have partnered to deploy nationwide terrestrial geospatial positioning by embedding Rypplzz’s software into Castanet’s hybrid broadcast network. The collaboration integrates Rypplzz’s spatial technology into Castanet’s ATSC 3.0 and 5G Broadcast infrastructure, unlocking three-axis positioning and nanosecond timing data for physical artificial intelligence applications across the country, the companies say.
The partnership merges Castanet’s high-power UHF TV broadcast spectrum with Rypplzz’s software-defined spatial intelligence platform under 3GPP Release 18 standards. Initial pilot deployments are scheduled to launch in Las Vegas and Silicon Valley, leveraging existing wireless infrastructure to create a resilient alternative to satellite navigation. By processing radio frequency measurements, transmitter geometry, and sensor observations directly, the system provides high-precision 3D location coverage in both indoor and outdoor environments without requiring dedicated parallel network hardware, the companies say.
Executives from both companies framed the initiative as a way to transform traditional television broadcast stations into location-aware digital infrastructure. Vern Fotheringham, founder and executive chairman of Castanet, said the hybrid platform aims to build a new category of position, navigation, and timing infrastructure that provides trusted coordination for data centers, public safety, military, and autonomous systems.
Beyond delivering content, the software-defined approach is designed to help insurers, venue operators, media companies, and logistics providers track where and when devices or physical assets move, the companies said. Operating on a one-to-many broadcast architecture allows the network to scale location services cost-effectively compared to traditional unicast cellular systems.
The commercialization of broadcast-based positioning lands Castanet and Rypplzz in direct competition with established terrestrial positioning, cellular, and spatial computing providers. In the resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) market, the duo faces competition from firms like NextNav NN 0.00%↑—which operates a dedicated 900 MHz ground network to deliver 3D geolocation and timing for emergency services and defense—as well as Locata’s high-power ground constellations and Satelles’ LEO satellite-based timing systems.
- Rypplzz expands 5G core capabilities with Amantya Technologies: India-based Amantya Technologies has selected Rypplzz’s spatial intelligence platform to power its AI-native 5G core solutions, accelerating the deployment of location-aware network software for telecom operators, enterprises, and government organizations worldwide. The partnership embeds Rypplzz’s spatial engine across Amantya’s cloud-native 5G Standalone Core, User Plane Function, Multi-access Edge Computing, and RAN Intelligent Controller infrastructure.
