Clear-Com has published results from a pre-launch field trial at Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome, conducted during Carnival 2026, exploring whether cellular networks can supplement or replace dedicated RF infrastructure for professional wireless communications in large, high-density venues. The trial centred on FreeSpeak Cell, a cellular-based intercom system operating over 4G LTE and 5G networks, designed to give production teams wide-area mobility without the coverage limitations of conventional localised RF systems.
Clear-Com said the results have generated interest in further applications for large-scale live events, including Formula 1, music festivals and other productions where teams require reliable communications across expansive venues.
As proof of concept, Clear-Com and Brazilian systems integrator Savana Comunicações deployed four FreeSpeak Cell beltpacks during live broadcast coverage of Carnival at the Sambadrome parade venue, one of the most RF-congested environments in live production due to the sheer concentration of people, mobile devices and wireless systems in the space. Savana configured an Eclipse HX digital matrix running a software version supporting FreeSpeak Cell, establishing a trunk connection to the broadcaster’s existing Eclipse intercom infrastructure so the cellular beltpacks could integrate directly into an established communications workflow rather than operating as a standalone system.
The trial tested performance under two different network conditions: an isolated network slice provided by Brazilian telecoms operator TIM, and the standard public cellular network shared with thousands of other attendees. According to Savana, FreeSpeak Cell performed reliably in both scenarios, suggesting cellular intercom can function even when sharing bandwidth with dense public network traffic rather than relying on a dedicated slice. Following the Carnival deployment, further tests were carried out at two live soccer matches using standard, locally purchased SIM cards installed directly into the beltpacks, demonstrating rapid deployment without the need for venue-specific RF infrastructure.
João Pedro Machado Homem, CTO at Savana Comunicações, said: “This deployment gave us an opportunity to put FreeSpeak Cell through its paces in a particularly demanding live production environment. The results demonstrated the potential of cellular intercom to give broadcast teams greater freedom to move while maintaining the reliable communications workflows they depend on.”
He added: “This was an important part of the proof of concept because we wanted to understand how FreeSpeak Cell would perform under different network conditions. The system performed extremely well, both using a dedicated network slice and when operating on the standard public cellular network.”
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