Mobile TV: The Next Big Thing?

Mobile TV is undoubtedly one of the most exciting areas within the mobile industry at the moment. Not only does it bring a familiar and popular medium to the mobile space for consumers, but it also heralds a range of new revenue opportunities for both the mobile and broadcasting industries. Strategy Analytics predict that mobile firms will have about 50 million users of mobile TV by 2009, generating an estimated £3.5bn in revenue. Peter Bazalgette, UK Chairman of leading independent television producer Endemol was clear about the potential of Mobile TV when he told the BBC, “This year is the first in a career of 27 years in television that I've been able to entertain people anywhere. A new era for those in the content business is starting.” For mobile operators looking to bring commercial television services to market, there are a range of competing technologies and standards available. Yet, in order to provide end users with the best quality mobile TV experience and the widest selection of channels, it is the DVB-H standard that delivers the best solution.

Delivering television over 3G

For many mobile operators, 3G networks provide the means of launching mobile television services here and now while DVB-H networks are being tested and developed. Vodafone, Orange and 3 have all rolled-out television services delivered over their 3G infrastructure, offering customers a selection of live television channels. In October 2005, Vodafone launched their 3G Mobile TV service in conjunction with Satellite broadcaster BSkyB. The service was offered free to Vodafone customers in the UK until the end of January, after which it will cost £5 a month. Yet, while 3G is a solution for bringing television services to the mobile space now and giving consumers a taster of what it is like to consume television on their mobile, it does not represent a long term solution for Mobile TV. On a 3G network, television content must share capacity with other mobile traffic, including downloaded content and voice calls. If the network reaches full capacity, then the quality of the television services will suffer. Furthermore, on 3G there is a limit to how many television channels can actually be delivered to the end user.

Source : wirtel.co.uk