Clear-Com Gen-IC Virtual Intercom Underpins TEDNext 2025

Clear-Com has delivered an advanced IP-based communications backbone for TEDNext 2025, designing a flexible workflow around its Gen-IC virtual intercom platform, the Agent-IC mobile app and the Station-IC virtual desktop client, with Stream Deck–based remote control.

Staged across a convention centre and neighbouring hotel spaces in Atlanta, the event drew more than 1,200 attendees and required comms that could serve multiple user roles while keeping constantly moving staff connected. Clear-Com's hybrid hardware-and-software setup ensured consistent, real-time coordination across all locations.

At the core was the Arcadia Central Station, interfacing with FreeSpeak II and FreeSpeak Icon beltpacks, LQ IP interfaces, and a Gen-IC host supporting both Agent-IC and Station-IC users. This approach blended traditional intercom hardware with virtual endpoints on laptops and mobile devices.

Using smartphones and laptops, TED Producers were able to move between the show floor, backstage and hotel breakout rooms while retaining full intercom access.

"Agent-IC gave our producers the freedom to move wherever they were needed without losing comms," said Emily Thomas, Producer at TED. "It felt like having a wireless beltpack that could go anywhere, which was especially important given how spread out the event was."

Inside TED's Media Cave, Station-IC provided dedicated intercom access for editorial and digital teams that had not previously been tied into production comms.

"For the first time, our Media Cave team was directly connected to the directors and production staff," said Eric Mueller, Senior Video Engineer at TED. "In the past, we relied on Slack for coordination. Having Station-IC made us feel fully integrated into the show flow, and it significantly improved our response time."

Station-IC users paired the software with Stream Deck controllers for quick, tactile access to talk keys and channel selection, helping staff operate efficiently during fast-paced periods.

"TEDNext is a perfect example of where virtual intercom really shines," said Sarah Koehler, Applications Engineer at Clear-Com. "The team needed to communicate across multiple buildings, levels, and roles, and Gen-IC made it possible to extend the intercom system far beyond the main control areas without adding physical infrastructure."

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