Key Points
- T-Mobile becomes Fox Weather’s preferred communications provider, equipping reporters with its SuperMobile business plan.
- SuperMobile combines 5G performance, enhanced security and satellite access to keep crews connected during severe weather.
- The partnership expands Fox Weather’s live reporting capabilities in remote and disaster-affected areas across the United States.
Free streaming climate science outlet Fox Weather is partnering with T-Mobile to bring live weather-related news from all corners of the country, even areas where bringing in a live signal has been challenged due to infrastructure and terrain.
On Wednesday, the companies announced a new pact that will see all Fox Weather field meteorologists, reporters and news crews utilize T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G network and cellular data over satellite connections, which will allow the news outlet to broadcast live from extremely remote places.
Fox Weather crews will use devices powered by T-Mobile’s new “SuperMobile” plan, which combines the wireless company’s intelligent network connectivity, built-in security and access to satellite coverage through its T-Satellite system. Using network slicing technology, SuperMobile dynamically allocates bandwidth for critical tasks such as high-quality video streaming and large file transfers, reducing buffering and dropouts.
The plan also incorporates advanced encryption and device authentication supported by T-Mobile’s 5G standalone network. Satellite access extends connectivity to roughly 500,000 square miles of remote U.S. territory not served by ground-based towers. As of October 1, T-Satellite supports data services, enabling crews to use navigation tools, upload videos and send image messages from isolated locations.
Sharri Berg, President of Fox Weather, said the partnership will help reporters stay connected during breaking news.
“This collaboration will ensure our communications network can keep up with our coverage regardless of the situation on the ground,” Berg said in a statement.
Going live from remote places has been a key priority for Fox Weather since it launched four years ago: Last year, Berg told The Desk that the network used a mixture of technology, including satellite Internet connectivity provided by Starlink and bonded cellular connections to establish live broadcasts from the epicenter of severe weather. That mixture of technology also allows Fox Weather to cover the aftermath of a storm, even when traditional broadcast and land-based broadband services are destroyed, damaged or otherwise disrupted.
Adding T-Mobile’s SuperMobile into the mix furthers that mission in a way that complements both businesses. Mo Katibeh, the Chief Marketing Officer for T-Mobile Business Group, said SuperMobile was designed for field reporting in unpredictable environments — the same conditions that Fox Weather meteorologists and journalists find themselves in on a regular basis.
“We built SuperMobile to give reporters intelligent performance, secure connectivity and off-grid coverage,” Katibeh said.
