DVB-H

Rumour Mill: Is Europe about to dump DVB-H requirement for mobile TV?

Paul Rasmussen — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:44:20 -0500

In March, the EU issued firm guidelines that DVB-H was very much the 'desired' standard to be adopted for mobile TV services in Europe. However, a statement from the EU issued Wednesday would indicate this support for DVB-H is beginning to evaporate, as officials play with words centred more on interoperability of mobile TV standards than the enforcement of a single technology.

While Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms and Media Commissioner, made reference to the success of mobile TV in Austria, Italy, Finland and the Netherlands as countries where services have been successfully launched, many mobile operators still struggle to implement a successful business model and uptake remains dismally low. A new study by Informa Telecoms and Media claims only South Korea and Japan are expected to see solid growth of mobile TV for the next two years, while Europe is not likely to experience market growth until sometime in 2009.

As reported in Mobile Europe, this week's statement, "aspects related to interoperability and roaming for mobile TV should be given due consideration in light of the wireless nature of the services," is particularly telling given the use of "due consideration"--made more interesting when measured against Reding's statement in March: "For Mobile TV to take off in Europe, there must first be certainty about the technology."

For more:
- go to Mobile Europe

Related article:
DVB-H near collapse in Germany, authorities demand licence back
Where now for mobile TV? Editorial
Brussels goes for DVB-H

DVB-H near collapse in Germany, authorities demand licence back

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:51:21 -0400

German media authorities have insisted that the mobile TV operator, Mobile 3.0, immediately return its DVB-H licence. The Commission for Approval and Supervision of the Media Authorities (ZAK) stated that Mobile 3.0 had failed to implement its overall concept and had not succeeded in signing any sales or marketing partners.

The chairman of the commission, Henry Thomas Lang, maintained the licence should be returned by the end of this month when it might be possible to restart DVB-H transmissions. The likelihood of a new company wanting to enter the DVB-H arena has improved since Germany agreed to a new legal situation--Rundfunkstaatsvertrag, or national broadcast framework--which makes possible the issuing of a national licence rather than state-by-state licences.

Mobile 3.0 launched DVB-H test transmissions in four large German cities, but no commercial service followed with reports that shareholders were unhappy with the prospects and wanted to pull out of the venture.

The situation was not helped by mobile operators launching competitive DVB-T broadcasts, having failed themselves to win DVB-H licences, and not wanting to share revenues with Mobile 3.0.

For more on this story:
- go to Rapid TV News and Telegeography

Related articles:
Austrian operator launches mobile TV services. Mobile TV story
Where now for mobile TV...? Editorial

Austrian operator launches mobile TV services

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:54 -0400

From June 13, mobilkom Austria's subscribers will be able to enjoy two new mobile TV services. The first is the A1 TV PLUS service which combines 3G/UMTS streaming with DVB-H technology and which will deliver 22 TV channels and five radio channels. Fifteen of the channels will use DVB-H and the remainder 3G/UMTS. To use this service customers will need the Nokia N77 handset which will cost €49 including a subscription to the 'A1 Komplett' mobile package. Also available to A1 customers will be a mobile TV service utilising DVB-T technology and the LG HB620 mobile phone. This service will offer six free TV channels. The announcement of the A1 TV PLUS service follows shortly after the launch of Austria's DVB-H network. mobilkom Austria has signed a co-operation agreement with Media Broadcast, the Austrian DVB-H licensee.

For more on this story:
- read Mobile Europe

Related story:
DVB-H services ready to go in Austria. Article

Brussels goes for DVB-H

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

The European Commission has ordered all 27 EU member states to 'privilege' DVB-H over other mobile TV technologies such as Qualcomm's MediaFLO and DMB. The reasons given for this decision were that it would 'end a war on standards' which could hold back the development of the mobile TV market in Europe. The Commission is also arguing that DVB-H is already becoming a de facto standard with support from heavyweight players including Nokia, Motorola, Philips, Sagem, Sony, Ericsson, Samsung as well as operators such as Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile International. Despite this support other vendors and operators are unhappy with the Commission's insistence on trying to mandate a European mobile TV standard. Qualcomm is unlikely to stop pushing MediaFLO although the fact that DVB-H is an open standard and the Qualcomm solution involves licence fees may be an inhibiting factor. MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service) technology is another potential mobile TV solution with T-Mobile and Orange in the U.K. about to launch MBMS trials. As MBMS is part of the 3G standard developed by ETSI it is already effectively a European standard. EC telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding may find that nominating DVB-H is the easy part, getting operators and vendors to deploy the technology could prove more difficult.

For further information:
- go to The Register and Cellular News

Related stories:
EU picks DVB-H (not FLO). Story

Rough going as EU declares DVB-H as mobile TV standard

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

While the EU has stated that DVB-H will now be added to the official list of standards, support is far from unanimous within the member states, as some call for 'technology neutrality', with DVB-H being no more than a non-mandatory standard among other options.

Despite these rumblings, the EU Commissioner for the Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, has called for all 27 members of the EU to back the move. She claims that it provides broadcasters, content creators, service providers and handset manufacturers the certainty they need to begin rolling out mobile TV services across the continent from next year onwards.

Reding commented that Europe risks losing its competitive edge unless it moves fast. "South Korea has a mobile TV penetration rate of 10 percent while Italy, the EU's most advanced market, has less than 1 percent."

DVB-H already has the backing of Nokia, Motorola, Philips, Ericsson and Samsung, as well as Vodafone, O2 and T-Mobile, and has been commercially launched in Italy and Finland and was recently trialled in Ireland by O2.

However, there are other technology alternatives, such as MediaFlo developed by Qualcomm. The company has been lobbying for Europe to adopt a technology-driven approach based on whatever proves to be most superior. Verizon in the US has already launched a MediaFlo service, with other North American operators committed to follow.

For more on this : The Register and xinhuanet

Research: Western European mobile TV to $2.4B by 2012

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:59:54 -0400

A report issued by market analysis firm Juniper Research forecasts the number of mobile TV subscribers in Western Europe will pass 20 million by 2011, but added that following the imminent shutdown of BT/Virgin Mobile's DAB-IP service, the U.K. is not expected to relaunch mobile broadcast TV services until 2010 at the very earliest. According to Juniper, Western European mobile TV revenues will grow from just over $150 million in 2007 to nearly $2.4 billion in 2012. Italy will represent the largest market, followed by Germany and France. Given the European Commission's DVB-H mandate, Juniper said it is highly unlikely any future commercial deployments will employ an alternative standard. The report also recommended operators share broadcast network infrastructure, following the lead of Germany, where T-Mobile, O2 and Vodafone are planning to jointly operate a single DVB-H network.

"After the successful launch of DVB-H-based services in Italy, many other Western European countries have either drawn up or are drawing up licensing procedures for mobile broadcast TV services," said report author Dr Windsor Holden. "However, the fact that optimal UHF spectrum will not be made available in the U.K. for several years effectively prevents any medium-term deployment of such services."

For more on Juniper Research's mobile TV forecast:
- read this release

Related articles:
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E.U. pressing for DVB-H standard
European mandate may propel U.S. DVB-H
EMBC: No need for mobile TV regulations
EU: Harmonize mobile TV rules, regulations