AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO RETROFIT SOLUTIONS AND

AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO RETROFIT SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

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CONTENTS

Introduction .................................... 1

Growing Momentum for LE Audio

and Auracast™ Broadcast Audio ......... 2

The Opportunity for Retrofit

Auracast™ Broadcast Audio

in Public Venues ............................... 4

Retrofit Opportunity

by Market Segments ......................... 7

Education ....................................................8

Public Assembly Social and Meeting Venues ....9

Public Assembly Entertainment

and Cultural Venues ....................................9

Public Assembly Transportation Hubs .........9

Religious Worship ..................................... 10

Food Service .............................................10

Healthcare ................................................10

Lodging .....................................................11

Offices .......................................................11

Public Order and Safety ............................11

Auracast™ Broadcast Audio

Transmitter Retrofit Device

Configurations ............................... 12

Simple Auracast™ Broadcast

Audio Retrofit Transmitters ........................ 13

Conclusion and Strategic

Recommendations .......................... 15

AURACAST

™

BROADCAST

AUDIO RETROFIT SOLUTIONS

AND OPPORTUNITIES

INTRODUCTION

Bluetooth

LE Audio (LE Audio) is set to transform the way people experience

audio in public spaces, changing the consumer audio and assistive

listening landscape. In addition to enabling signicant reductions in power

consumption, lower latency, and higher audio quality, LE Audio will also lead

to greater standardization of audio capabilities, enabling market categories

such as true-wireless headsets and hearing aids to further ourish, while

enabling new Bluetooth

chipset vendors to take advantage of these growing

audio market segments. Meanwhile, the broadcast capabilities of LE Audio

technology, known as Auracast™ broadcast audio, will help enable innovative

audio usage scenarios and new product categories. This will include personal

audio sharing, the ability for a source device such as a laptop, tablet, or

television (TV) to broadcast to an unlimited number of headsets or other

receivers, and use cases within public venues, driving new ways of interacting

with audio within a wide range of establishments. In the longer term, this

will lead to millions of public venues supporting Auracast™ broadcast audio

technology across both augmented listening and assistive listening use cases,

enabling scenarios such as cinema goers to be able to listen to a movie,

travelers to better hear public announcements, gym and sports bar visitors to

unmute silent TVs, or museum goers to receive guided tours using their own

listening devices. This will enable a whole new wave of opportunities for LE

Audio within public spaces and create new and innovative consumer audio and

assistive listening applications within a wide range of device types.

Andrew Zignani,

Senior Research Director

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Opportunities for Auracast™ broadcast audio are enormous, with the technology

envisioned to be leveraged within several use cases across a wide number of public

venues. This could include audio systems within conference and lecture halls, theaters

and cinemas, and places of worship, Public Address (PA) and alert systems in airports

and transportation hubs, and eventually, one-to-one countertop deployments within

retail and other service environments.

Thanks to the numerous benets of Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter solutions,

including simple deployment, the ability to provide consistent, high-quality, direct-to-ear

stereo audio to compatible audio devices, low infrastructure costs, interoperability, and

strong backing from the consumer audio and assistive hearing ecosystem, Auracast™

broadcast audio has the potential to signicantly build upon and complement existing

assistive listening solutions, expanding access to new venues and regions that currently

have limited or no assistive listening infrastructure. At the same time, it will enable new

audio experiences for users with or without hearing loss, further compounding the

benets of Auracast™ broadcast audio deployments and providing additional incentive

for the accelerated rollout in many venues.

GROWING MOMENTUM FOR LE AUDIO

AND AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO

Since the complete suite of LE Audio specications was made available in July 2022,

momentum for LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions has continued to

grow. According to the bluetooth.com website, numerous products have undergone

or are in the process of undergoing Bluetooth SIG qualication that support LE Audio,

including chipsets, modules, smartphones, Personal Computers (PCs), tablets, headsets

and earbuds, TVs, speakers, hearing aids, and transmitter and receiver devices.

Propelling the LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio ecosystem forward is a large

selection of chipsets from leading vendors such as Qualcomm, Broadcom, MediaTek,

Airoha, Nordic Semiconductor, NXP, Realtek, Telink, and Bestechnic, among others.

Meanwhile, key vendors in the hearing aid space have announced their support for

LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio technology. In September 2023, GN Hearing

announced support within its ReSound Nexia™ hearing aids and its TV-Streamer+

device, while in November 2022, Cochlear Limited announced that it received U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Cochlear™ Nucleus

8 Sound Processor,

the world’s rst cochlear implant sound processor ready to support for LE Audio and

Auracast™ broadcast audio. At the same time, while this report is being written, many

existing Bluetooth

audio devices are now receiving rmware updates to support LE

Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio capabilities, further expanding the ecosystem,

while many others have the potential to be upgraded to support this functionality. This

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includes headsets and true-wireless earbuds such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

Others have planned product introductions that will be announced after the publication

of this document.

There are also a growing number of source devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs,

notebooks, and TVs that support LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio technology.

While it will take some time for the entire market to transition to supporting Auracast™

broadcast audio, both from a hardware and a software perspective, encouraging signs

for adoption include LE Audio support in Android 13, support within Samsung’s Galaxy

S23 and Fold series via its One UI 6 (and higher) update, and recent announcements

that Windows 11 will add support for LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio. This

will enable direct connectivity with hearing aids and other LE Audio receiver devices.

Smart TVs, including the 2023 Samsung Neo QLED 8K and MICRO LED series have

received software updates to support Auracast™ broadcast audio. Combined, these

developments point toward an accelerating ecosystem of LE Audio and Auracast™

broadcast audio-capable solutions that can support the technology at launch or

retroactively via software updates.

As Chart 1 demonstrates, ABI Research forecasts that by 2028, annual shipments

of LE Audio-enabled devices are expected to reach approximately 3 billion, growing

from 391 million in 2023. The vast majority of these will come from source devices

such as smartphones, PCs, tablets, TVs, and smartwatches, and receiver devices

such as headsets, true-wireless earbuds, hearing aids and Over-the-Counter (OTC)

hearing aids, and speakers. Please visit bluetooth.com for the latest introductions and

announcements.

Chart 1: Annual Bluetooth

LE Audio-Enabled Device Shipments,

World Markets: 2023 to 2028

(Source: ABI Research)

There are also a growing number of source devices such as smartphones,

tablets, PCs, notebooks, and TVs that support LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast

audio technology. While it will take some time for the entire market to transition

to supporting Auracast™ broadcast audio, both from a hardware and a software

perspective, encouraging signs for adoption include LE Audio support in Android

13, support within Samsung’s Galaxy S23 and Fold series via its One UI 6 (and

higher) update, and recent announcements that Windows 11 will add support

for LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio. This will enable direct connectivity

with hearing aids and other LE Audio receiver devices. Smart TVs, including the

2023 Samsung Neo QLED 8K and MICRO LED series have received software

updates to support Auracast™ broadcast audio. Combined, these developments

point toward an accelerating ecosystem of LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast

audio-capable solutions that can support the technology at launch or

retroactively via software updates. As Chart 1 demonstrates, ABI Research

forecasts that by 2028, annual shipments of LE Audio-enabled devices are

expected to reach approximately 3 billion, growing from 391 million in 2023. The

vast majority of these will come from source devices such as smartphones, PCs,

tablets, TVs, and smartwatches, and receiver devices such as headsets, true-

wireless earbuds, hearing aids and Over-the-Counter (OTC) hearing aids, and

speakers.

Chart 1: Bluetooth® LE Audio-Enabled Device Shipments, World

Markets: 2023 to 2028

(Source: ABI Research)

As Chart 2 demonstrates, this growing ecosystem will incentivize millions of

venues to deploy Auracast™ broadcast audio technology over the next few

years, with public venue adoption expected to accelerate in the second half of

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

(Billions)

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As Chart 2 demonstrates, this growing ecosystem will incentivize millions of venues

to deploy Auracast™ broadcast audio technology over the next few years, with public

venue adoption expected to accelerate in the second half of this decade due to wider

availability and awareness of Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions, alongside a critical

mass of Auracast™ broadcast audio-capable receiver devices being adopted by end

users.

Chart 2: Total Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Deployments,

World Markets: 2024 to 2030

(Source: ABI Research)

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RETROFIT AURACAST™

BROADCAST AUDIO IN PUBLIC VENUES

Given this relatively rapid adoption of LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio-capable

receiver devices, including true wireless earbuds, headsets, hearing aids, and cochlear

implants, there is a new emerging opportunity for Bluetooth

solution providers to

develop retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions for public venues that can be

simple to install, take advantage of low-cost transmitter devices, and enable a valuable

combination of new audio experiences and improved listening for both the hearing

impaired and the wider users of Bluetooth

audio technology. These solutions can help

bridge the gap between this early adoption period and the time in which it will take to

develop and deploy dedicated, fully integrated Auracast™ broadcast audio equipment

such as AV systems, PA systems, and specialized assistive listening infrastructure.

These retrot solutions can enhance audio for both hearing aid users and the broader

Bluetooth

user base, expediting deployments across a wide range of public venues

and enabling a sizable new opportunity for Bluetooth

solution providers to capture

before the market transition to embedded solutions is completed. Figure 1 shows how

these dierent types of retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio hardware can help address

this multitude of applications.

this decade due to wider availability and awareness of Auracast™ broadcast

audio solutions, alongside a critical mass of Auracast™ broadcast audio-capable

receiver devices being adopted by end users.

Chart 2: Total Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Deployments, World

Markets: 2024 to 2030

(Source: ABI Research)

The Opportunity for Retroﬁt Auracast™ Broadcast Audio in Public

Venues

Given this relatively rapid adoption of LE Audio and Auracast™ broadcast audio-

capable receiver devices, including true wireless earbuds, headsets, hearing aids,

and cochlear implants, there is a new emerging opportunity for Bluetooth®

solution providers to develop retroﬁt Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions for

public venues that can be simple to install, take advantage of low-cost

transmitter devices, and enable a valuable combination of new audio

experiences and improved listening for both the hearing impaired and the wider

users of Bluetooth® audio technology. These solutions can help bridge the gap

between this early adoption period and the time in which it will take to develop

and deploy dedicated, fully integrated Auracast™ broadcast audio equipment

such as AV systems, PA systems, and specialized assistive listening

infrastructure. These retroﬁt solutions can enhance audio for both hearing aid

users and the broader Bluetooth® user base, expediting deployments across a

wide range of public venues and enabling a sizable new opportunity for

Bluetooth® solution providers to capture before the market transition to

embedded solutions is completed. Figure 1 shows how these diﬀerent types of

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

Actual Deployments

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Figure 1: Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Hardware Options for Retrofit

(Source: Bluetooth SIG)

In its most basic form, wherever there is a power source and an audio source that can

be connected, a retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter, adapter, or dongle can

be deployed to enable any one of the following Auracast™ broadcast audio use cases

identied by the Bluetooth SIG:

• Augmented Listening in Public Spaces: Venues that deploy PA systems such as

airports, cinemas, lecture halls, conference centers, places of worship, and more can

provide a better audio experience by enabling visitors to receive the PA audio directly

into their own Auracast™ broadcast audio headset or hearing device. When used

in this manner, Auracast™ broadcast audio will function as a high-quality, low-cost,

next-generation Assistive Listening System (ALS), improving the audio experience for

visitors with and without hearing loss. Retrot transmitters, adapters, and dongles

that can be tted to legacy sound systems, speakers, microphones, personal audio

devices, and other installed equipment could enable these experiences without

the need to wait for fully integrated Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions to be

developed, as well as the additional time it may take for the existing systems to be

upgraded.

• Silent TV Screens: Venues that provide silent TV screens such as airports,

gymnasiums, hotels, restaurants, and waiting rooms can oer a more satisfying

watching experience by providing access to the program’s audio for people using

their own Auracast™ broadcast audio-enabled headsets or hearing devices. Retrot

retroﬁt Auracast™ broadcast audio hardware can help address this multitude of

applications.

Figure 1: Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Hardware Options for

Retroﬁt

(Source: Bluetooth SIG)

In its most basic form, wherever there is a power source and an audio source

that can be connected, a retroﬁt Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter,

adapter, or dongle can be deployed to enable one of the following Auracast™

broadcast audio use cases identiﬁed by the Bluetooth SIG:

• Augmented Listening in Public Spaces: Venues that deploy PA systems

such as airports, cinemas, lecture halls, conference centers, places of

worship, and more can provide a better audio experience by enabling

visitors to receive the PA audio directly into their own Auracast™

broadcast audio headset or hearing device. When used in this manner,

Auracast™ broadcast audio will function as a high-quality, low-cost, next-

generation Assistive Listening System (ALS), improving the audio

experience for visitors with and without hearing loss. Retroﬁt transmitters,

adapters, and dongles that can be ﬁtted to legacy sound systems,

speakers, microphones, personal audio devices, and other installed

equipment could enable these experiences without the need to wait for

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High-Denition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), or auxiliary

dongles that can be connected to TVs already deployed in these venues could be a

low-cost alternative to purchasing a new TV with embedded Auracast™ broadcast

audio support.

• Multi-Language Support: Venues that support simultaneous interpretation services

such as conference and meeting centers, or alternative language programming

for video programming can provide a more engaging audio experience and let

participants use their own Auracast™ broadcast audio headsets or hearing devices

to receive audio in their desired language. Retrot transmitters equipped with

existing audio systems have the ability to broadcast multiple simultaneous streams,

potentially enabling synchronized multi-language content in places like conference

venues, cinemas, airports, and railway stations.

• Tour Systems: Venues that provide guided group tours such as museums,

convention centers, and tourist attractions can create a more compelling tour

experience by enabling visitors to use their own Auracast™ broadcast audio-enabled

headsets or hearing devices when participating in the tour. Retrot solutions could

potentially be designed to integrate with already existing tour guide systems, or

enable venues to use personal audio devices such as smartphones as tour systems,

which can be easily retrotted with an Auracast™ broadcast audio dongle.

Figure 2 shows what ABI Research expects to be some of the typical deployment

scenarios for retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions.

Figure 2: Potential Retrofit Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Deployment Environments

(Source: ABI Research)

Within these environments, Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters, adapters,

and dongles can be simply connected to a wide range of existing audio sources,

including:

• TVs deployed in airports, bars, gymnasiums, hotels, and other public

venues

• PA systems across a wide range of environments, including transportation

hubs, education campuses, and healthcare facilities

• Lecture hall and classroom communication systems

• Place of worship communication systems

• Conference room speakers in oﬃces, hotels, smart buildings, and

convention centers

• Audio mixers and racks in theaters, cinemas, and other public

entertainment venues

• Stadium audio systems

• Tour guide systems within museums, galleries, and other tourist

attractions

Auracast™ broadcast audio technology is expected to be embedded in both

public venue-deployed source devices (e.g., TVs), dedicated assistive listening

equipment, or as part of the product oﬀering for professional Audio-Visual (AV)

solution providers over time. However, given the large number of venues and

audio sources already deployed globally, this will create a sizable potential

retroﬁt market opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast audio technology. These

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Within these environments, Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters, adapters, and

dongles can be simply connected to a wide range of existing audio sources, including:

• TVs deployed in airports, bars, gymnasiums, hotels, and other public venues

• PA systems across a wide range of environments, including transportation hubs,

education campuses, and healthcare facilities

• Lecture hall and classroom communication systems

• Place of worship communication systems

• Conference room speakers in oces, hotels, smart buildings, and convention centers

• Audio mixers and racks in theaters, cinemas, and other public entertainment venues

• Stadium audio systems

• Tour guide systems within museums, galleries, and other tourist attractions

Auracast™ broadcast audio technology is expected to be embedded in both public venue-

deployed source devices (e.g. TVs), dedicated assistive listening equipment, or as part

of the product oering for professional Audio-Visual (AV) solution providers over time.

However, given the large number of venues and audio sources already deployed globally,

this will create a sizable potential retrot market opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast

audio technology. These retrot solutions will also help raise awareness of Auracast™

broadcast audio technology and enable benets for both assistive listening use cases and

wider consumer augmented listening experiences. Combined, these will help incentivize

investment in Auracast™ broadcast audio technology, educate consumers and venues

on the benets, accelerate the development of dedicated hardware solutions, and drive

further adoption in both mainstream source and receiver devices.

RETROFIT OPPORTUNITY

BY MARKET SEGMENTS

Figure 3 maps the various retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio opportunities in terms

of viability and ease of installation. Some retrot use cases will be easier to deploy

and require less complexity. One of the more obvious larger-scale and easy to deploy

Auracast™ broadcast audio deployments will be silent TV applications across a range

of venues, including bars and pubs, transportation hubs, gyms, and others. Following

closely behind this will be retrot solutions that require slightly more complexity such

as integrating into existing speaker systems, audio mixers, and PA systems. These may

require additional conguration depending on the size of the room and deployment

environment. Beyond this are larger-scale venues, including transportation hubs,

stadiums, and healthcare PA systems, which could require multiple transmitters to cover a

facility and are more dicult to physically install in the existing audio sources.

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Figure 3: Retrofit Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Opportunity by

Viability and Ease of Installation

(Source: ABI Research)

The following sections discuss the retrot opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast audio

across the key market verticals in more detail.

Education

Educational buildings refer primarily to classroom buildings within schools, colleges,

and university campuses. The primary use case for Auracast™ broadcast audio in these

environments will be augmented and assistive listening deployments, allowing users to

receive audio from teachers and lecturers using the audio systems. Here, there could

be tens of classrooms equipped with an Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter per

building, while for some of the largest auditoriums, additional transmitters could be

leveraged to ensure all users can connect eectively. Most lecture halls today have PA

systems that could be simply retrotted with Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters

to provide immediate benets. In addition, many classrooms have existing speaker

systems to ensure the educator’s voice can be easily understood without the need for

them to raise their voice. There could also be opportunities for in-class microphones

and transmitters for use by students.

With nearly 2 million educational establishments globally, each with multiple buildings

with multiple classrooms, lecture halls, and seminar rooms, this could equate to an

enormous opportunity for retrofit assistive listening solutions.

The following sections discuss the retroﬁt opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast

audio across the key market verticals in more detail.

Education

Educational buildings refer primarily to classroom buildings within schools,

colleges, and university campuses. The primary use case for Auracast™

broadcast audio in these environments will be augmented and assistive listening

deployments, allowing users to receive audio from teachers and lecturers using

the audio systems. Here, there could be tens of classrooms equipped with an

Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter per building, while for some of the

largest auditoriums, additional transmitters could be leveraged to ensure all

users can connect eﬀectively. Most lecture halls today have PA systems that

could be simply retroﬁtted with Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters to

provide immediate beneﬁts. In addition, many classrooms have existing speaker

systems to ensure the educator’s voice can be easily understood without the

need for them to raise their voice. There could also be opportunities for in-class

microphones and transmitters for use by students.

With nearly 2 million educational establishments globally, each with

multiple buildings with multiple classrooms, lecture halls, and seminar

Education PA Systems

Education Classroom

Speaker Systems

Public Assembly PA Systems

Public Assembly Meeting

Room Speaker Systems

Religious Worship

Speaker Systems

Bar and Pub

Silent TVs

Healthcare PA Systems

Healthcare Silent TVs

Hospitality

Silent TVs

Hospitality Meeting Room

Speaker Systems

Office Meeting Room Speaker Systems

Gym and Health

Club Silent TVs

Entertainment and

Cultural Venue PA

Systems

Entertainment and

Cultural Venue Silent TVs

Entertainment and Cultural

Venue Audio Systems

Transportation Hub Silent TVs

Transportation Hub PA Systems

Public Order PA Systems

Tour Guide Systems

Ease of Installation

Retrofit Viability

Limited retrofit opportunity, easy to install

Large retrofit opportunity, easy to install

Limited retrofit opportunity, harder to install

Large retrofit opportunity, harder to install

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Public Assembly Social and Meeting Venues

Public assembly social and meeting venues include libraries, community centers,

lodges, meeting halls, convention centers, and senior centers. These venues will

benet from Auracast™ broadcast audio’s ability to transmit audio from a PA system

to unlimited numbers of receiver devices, without the need for extensive hearing

loop conguration or handing out additional headsets. Similar to educational

institutions, these venues could all benet from retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio

transmitters that can be simply connected with the existing meeting room speaker or

PA systems. These can enable both public announcement-related use cases, alongside

better listening experiences for visitors attending meetings, listening to speakers at

conferences, and other event use cases.

Public Assembly Entertainment and Cultural Venues

Within theaters and cinemas, audio from the movie or stage can be broadcasted

directly to visitor hearing aids or headsets, enhancing their experience. To achieve

this, retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters, adapters, and dongles could be

connected to the audio processor and mixers within these environments.

Sports arenas and stadiums could also benet from existing speakers and audio

systems being retrotted with Auracast™ broadcast audio devices, particularly within

indoor or enclosed environments such as concourses, bars and restaurants, or private

boxes. These could enable users to listen to important public announcements or game

commentary. Similarly, within these environments, existing TVs could be retrotted with

Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters to allow users to listen to silent TVs.

Another opportunity within these large venues could be guided tours. In museums

and other tourist attractions, existing portable tour guide systems could be retrotted

with Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters, adapters, or dongles to enable visitors

to listen to exhibit information via audio guide players connecting to their own

headsets, without the need for neckloops or additional headsets. Alternatively, venues

that do not have tour guide systems in place could leverage Auracast™ broadcast

audio smartphones as transmitters to enable visitors to tune into their public stream,

lowering the overall cost of tour guide deployment.

Public Assembly Transportation Hubs

In airports, railway and subway stations, bus depots, and other transportation hubs,

retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio adapters could be connected to existing PA systems

and gate or terminal speakers to enable visitors to tune into public announcements.

This will ensure that travelers always have access to the most relevant information for

them in often busy and noisy environments, reducing stress and the potential to miss

vital updates. Alongside this, bars and restaurants, waiting areas, and lounges within

transportation hubs could all benet from silent TV use cases, allowing guests and

visitors to tune into their chosen broadcast, improving visitor satisfaction.

There are nearly 5 million public assembly buildings globally, and each has the

potential to leverage multiple different Auracast™ broadcast audio usage scenarios,

resulting in a significant opportunity for retrofit transmitter devices.

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Religious Worship

Another key vertical, primarily for assistive listening deployments, is places of worship.

Retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio devices can be easily connected to the existing

venue audio system to provide immediate benets for visitors. The primary use case

here is for attendees to be able to listen to sermons and religious teachings via their

own hearing aids or headset devices, while the main benet is that venues do not

need to deploy more complex or expensive additional infrastructure, or provide users

with compatible neckloops or headsets that alternative Infrared (IR) and FM systems

will require.

Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters could be simply retrofitted to PA and speaker

systems already installed within these venues. With nearly 4.4 million places of

worship globally, this could represent a significant opportunity.

Food Service

In buildings such as fast-food outlets, restaurants, cafés, bars, and pubs, the primary

opportunity for retrot solutions will be within silent TVs, enabling customers to listen

to sports, news, or other programs typically displayed in these environments. In some

venues such as sports bars, there could be tens of TVs displaying dierent events,

each equipped with its own retrotted Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter dongle.

Alternative Wi-Fi-based assistive solutions targeting this space have already been

deployed; however, Auracast™ broadcast audio could bring signicant low-latency and

cost advantages, alongside a much lower complexity deployment.

With more than 2.8 million food service establishments globally, and potentially

tens of TVs per venue, there could be significant opportunities for retrofit silent TV

Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters in the coming years.

Healthcare

Another key environment for retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio adoption will be within

healthcare environments. This will include public broadcast use cases such as within

waiting rooms for visitor callouts when ready to be seen, as well as safety and security

announcements. Existing PA systems could be simply retrotted with Auracast™

broadcast audio transmitters. Other potential use cases include silent TVs within waiting

rooms and for inpatient hospital beds or shared TV spaces. This can help those with

or without hearing loss to listen to the TV without disturbing nearby patients, while

improving visitor satisfaction and comfort. For each of these use cases, there could be

tens to hundreds of transmitters per building depending on the size and number of

waiting rooms and TVs.

With nearly 90,000 inpatient facilities such as hospitals and nearly 1.3 million

outpatient facilities such as clinics and medical offices, this could be another sizable

opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters.

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Lodging

One key retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio use case could be silent TV applications

for in-room or reception area usage within hotels, motels, inns, dormitories, nursing

homes, and assisted living facilities. For example, guests with hearing loss could better

listen to the TV in their hotel room via their Auracast™ broadcast audio headset, rather

than having to turn it up to a very high volume, which could disturb their neighbors.

Meanwhile, users without hearing loss could listen to silent TVs in a hotel lobby. Other

potential use cases within hotels could be meeting rooms and conference rooms. Here,

PA-style and conference speaker solutions could be leveraged to enable visitors or

attendees at events to better listen to public speakers. In assisted living facilities, similar

use cases would apply across resident rooms and meeting spaces.

Similarly, recreational facilities such as gyms and health clubs could all potentially

benet from retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions that can be connected to

existing TVs, allowing guests and visitors to tune into the streams when working out or

relaxing in clubhouses.

With over 2 million lodging establishments around the world, potentially with multiple

retrofit use cases, this could represent another sizable opportunity for retrofit

Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions.

Offices

The primary retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio opportunities for oce buildings

will be found within audio systems within meeting and conference rooms, whereby

microphones can pick up the audio from speakers or those sitting around the table

and transmit this to a hearing aid or headset device via an Auracast™ broadcast audio

transmitter integrated into the existing sound system. Many such solutions on the

market today are based on induction loop and FM technology. Instead, Auracast™

broadcast audio transmitters can be connected to existing meeting room audio

systems swiftly, at a low cost, and with security in mind.

With nearly 10 million offices globally, this could represent a significant retrofit

opportunity for Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters.

Public Order and Safety

These buildings primarily include police and re stations, courthouses, jails, and

other public order establishments. The main potential use case for retrot Auracast™

broadcast audio solutions will be within courthouses, and more specically courtrooms,

where existing audio systems can enable members of the court and jury to better listen

to conversations taking place, potentially in multiple languages. These retrot solutions

could also extend to meeting and conference rooms within the building. Critical to

Auracast™ broadcast audio adoption in these environments will be the ability to

provide secure transmitters that can protect against unauthorized listeners.

With nearly 740,000 public order and safety establishments globally, this could

represent a smaller, but still significant opportunity for retrofit Auracast™ broadcast

audio solutions.

AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO RETROFIT SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

www.abiresearch.com

AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO TRANSMITTER

RETROFIT DEVICE CONFIGURATIONS

Retrot assistive and augmented listening transmitters are not a new invention. A core

element of many existing listening technologies such as Radio Frequency (RF), IR, FM,

and Wi-Fi-based solutions, is retrotting transmitters to various venue audio sources

that can broadcast the audio signal to receiver devices. These receiver devices can be a

dedicated headset or an assistive hearing device, a neckloop receiver, or a smartphone.

Figure 4 provides some examples of existing transmitters based on alternative

technologies.

Figure 4: Examples of Existing FM, RF, and Wi-Fi Assistive Listening

Transmitter Solutions

(Source: ABI Research)

There are many RF assistive listening deployments in public venues today. These can

provide many of the same benets to public spaces as an Auracast™ broadcast audio

system, including multi-channel, ease of setup, and low costs. However, these require

the venue to provide visitors with a dedicated RF-capable headset or receiver device

that can be connected to their hearing aid via a neckloop, or placing headphones over

the microphone of the user’s hearing device. In contrast, Auracast™ broadcast audio

users can bring their own devices, removing the need for locations having to manage

equipment and users being required to check out special equipment.

Wi-Fi assistive listening solutions can also provide a high-quality, simplied experience;

key benets include coverage, easy deployment, and minimal infrastructure. However,

this usually requires a smartphone with a dedicated app to connect to the stream

and typically has higher latency, providing an inferior user experience compared to

what Auracast™ broadcast audio will be able to oer. Auracast™ broadcast audio can

With nearly 740,000 public order and safety establishments globally, this

could represent a smaller, but still signiﬁcant opportunity for retroﬁt

Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions.

Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Transmitter Retroﬁt Device Conﬁgurations

Retroﬁt assistive and augmented listening transmitters are not a new invention.

A core element of many existing listening technologies such as Radio Frequency

(RF), IR, FM, and Wi-Fi-based solutions, is retroﬁtting transmitters to various

venue audio sources that can broadcast the audio signal to receiver devices.

These receiver devices can be a dedicated headset or an assistive hearing

device, a neckloop receiver, or a smartphone. Figure 4 provides some examples

of existing transmitters based on alternative technologies.

Figure 4: Examples of Existing FM, RF, and Wi-Fi Assistive

Listening Transmitter Solutions

(Source: ABI Research)

There are many RF assistive listening deployments in public venues today. These

can provide many of the same beneﬁts to public spaces as an Auracast™

broadcast audio system, including multi-channel, ease of setup, and low costs.

However, these require the venue to provide visitors with a dedicated RF-

capable headset or receiver device that can be connected to their hearing aid via

a neckloop, or placing headphones over the microphone of the user’s hearing

device. In contrast, Auracast™ broadcast audio users can bring their own

AURACAST™ BROADCAST AUDIO RETROFIT SOLUTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

www.abiresearch.com

go further by broadcasting directly to the receiver device and provides a lower latency

experience without the need for dedicated devices and neckloops. This can help reduce

the complexity and overall cost of the solution, alongside simplifying installation.

While hearing loops are also capable of working directly with hearing aids, Auracast™

broadcast audio can provide a higher quality experience, support for multiple sources

in a single location, and a much more streamlined, simplied, and cost-eective

deployment. In addition, Auracast™ broadcast audio can provide enhanced augmented

listening experiences such as unmuting silent TVs, multi-language support, audio

and tour guides, and potential new audio services within sports venues and other

entertainment environments.

Simple Auracast™ Broadcast Audio Retrofit Transmitters

As demonstrated, there is already a growing installed base of receiver devices that will

be capable of receiving Auracast™ broadcast audio broadcasts. This is expected to

rapidly accelerate over the next few years. Bluetooth

solution providers now have an

opportunity to develop retrot Auracast™ broadcast audio solutions that can provide

venues with assistive listening capabilities, alongside enhanced consumer experiences

across many dierent environments. The more venues that support Auracast™ broadcast

audio deployments, the greater the incentive for receivers to also support the technology,

which will, in turn, create a compelling consumer and public Auracast™ broadcast audio

ecosystem that enables users to take advantage of personal and public sharing use

cases. These solutions can be as simple as a USB, 3.5 Millimeter (mm), optical, or HDMI

dongle solution that can be plugged into any existing audio source. Figure 5 shows one

such example of a simple Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitter design. These designs

could apply to both consumer and public venue deployments, as well as multiple use

cases including silent TV, microphone, or wider audio equipment integration.

Figure 5: Example of Simple Auracast™ Broadcast Audio

Transmitter Designs

(Source: Bluetooth SIG)

As ABI Research highlighted in its recent LE Audio: The Future of Bluetooth® Audio

report, more than 60 million venues globally could take advantage of Auracast™

broadcast audio technology. Considering that many of these venues could

deploy up to hundreds of Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters depending on

the use case, it is clear that there is an enormous number of existing audio

sources that could be retroﬁtted to enable Auracast™ broadcast audio

technology. This represents the Total Addressable Market (TAM) for Auracast™

broadcast audio technology within public venues.

These simple Auracast™ broadcast audio transmitters can also capture

signiﬁcant opportunities in the consumer market. There is already a wide range

and well-established market of retroﬁt Bluetooth® Classic transmitter and

receiver devices on the market that target automotive, gaming, and TV

applications. As LE Audio headsets become more widely available, there will be a

greater desire to retroﬁt existing owned devices such as smartphones, PCs, TVs,

games consoles, and AV systems for high-quality, low-latency connectivity,

enabling Auracast™ broadcast audio personal sharing use cases until embedded