• Via One affiliates Assist Wireless and enTouch Wireless, which collectively serve more than 385,000 mobile customers, have signed to use FreeCast's streaming platform
  • FreeCast raised about $23.7 million in July, but the company said the proceeds are for working capital and general corporate purposes rather than a specific telecom rollout

The fact

FreeCast has outlined a strategy to sell its streaming Platform-as-a-Service to mobile operators, MVNOs, internet providers, satellite companies and broadcasters. The platform combines content aggregation, streaming interfaces, and monetisation tools that providers can use for services offered under their own brands.

The company already has agreements with Via One affiliates Assist Wireless and enTouch Wireless, which collectively serve more than 385,000 mobile customers. FreeCast said the two providers will use its platform for branded video services across mobile devices and connected televisions.

FreeCast also completed a private placement in July that generated about $23.7 million in gross proceeds. Its SEC filing says the money is intended for working capital and general corporate purposes. It does not state that the financing is reserved for the telecom PaaS strategy.

The assessment

For a smaller mobile or broadband provider, launching a video service is not just a matter of finding content. The operator also needs apps, account management, subscriptions, advertising and payment systems. FreeCast is offering to handle much of that work while the provider keeps its own brand in front of the customer.

The harder part comes once the service is live. If video is sold through the same account as connectivity, problems with access, billing or content availability can quickly become customer-service issues for the operator, even when FreeCast is running the platform underneath. Assist Wireless and enTouch Wireless give FreeCast a chance to show how that arrangement works in practice, but there are still no launch dates, usage figures or revenue numbers.

For BTW readers, the important part comes after the contracts are signed. If these services launch and become integrated with the operators’ existing billing and customer systems, FreeCast will be taking on a continuing operational role rather than simply supplying a branded streaming product.

What to watch

Watch for the Assist Wireless and enTouch Wireless services to launch, including details on billing, subscriber access and the products customers receive. Additional MNO, MVNO or ISP contracts would broaden the customer base, while disclosure of active users or recurring platform revenue would show whether signed agreements are turning into operating services.