Since June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been in force, an EU directive that mandates that certain digital products and services — such as self-service terminals, ticket machines, and communication systems — be made accessible to people with disabilities, including auditory accessibility. The directive does not prescribe a specific technology, but induction loops (IEC 60118-4) remain the standard for meeting this requirement. New installations must comply now; existing systems have until 2030 to do so. Auracast is viewed by the sector as the successor to induction loops, but it is not (yet) a legal requirement — though it is a technology that will eventually take over the same function with broader compatibility.

Auracast, the new broadcast standard within Bluetooth LE Audio, is undergoing a silent revolution in public spaces. Instead of sending sound to a handful of distributed receivers, a single Auracast transmitter broadcasts high-quality audio to an unlimited number of devices simultaneously — from modern hearing aids and cochlear implants to earbuds and dedicated receivers. Williams AV, specializing in assistive listening technology for nearly fifty years, was one of the first manufacturers with a professional Auracast system: Infinium. The system is officially qualified by the Bluetooth SIG and was designed for AV integrators.

Infinium consists of a controller with a separate, discrete transmitter (BA CT1), a dedicated receiver (BA R1), and two ready-to-use kits focused on accessibility, with two or four receivers (BA SYS1 and BA SYS2). The transmitter integrates via Dante into existing AV networks, supports open or encrypted broadcasts, and delivers stereo or mono sound with a latency of less than 40 ms and a range of approximately 100 meters.

The applications are numerous: real-time audio in classrooms and auditoriums, travel information in train stations and airports, multilingual interpretation at conferences, and clear sound in theaters, places of worship, and fitness centers. Visitors use their own device or a receiver provided by the venue.