Mobile TV test launched in UK

Four mobile operators yesterday launched a mobile television trial in the UK. 3UK, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone jointly announced the project which is scheduled to run until the end of the year. TDtv is based on the UMTS TD-CDMA-3GPP MBMS standard, essentially a broadcasting service that can be offered over existing mobile networks. Taking advantage of unused 3G spectrum bands, the trial is being treated as a way of assessing the potential of using existing infrastructures to distribute mobile TV and other multimedia services. The trial is being rolled out in the Bristol area to provide services to TDtv-enabled smartphones. An application created by MobiTV, a TV services company, is required to receive the content and other components of the trial. Other mobile TV broadcasting standards do exist, but the operators involved in this trial are keen to assess the viability of TDtv before deciding which one to adopt. "There are a number of technologies emerging that must be fully explored so we will have a comprehensive understanding of how the technology works and the experience they will offer," said Professor Michael Walker, director of research and development at Vodafone. "Currently, the most interesting technologies are the variants of MBMS and DVB-H and this trial forms part of the MBMS assessments we are undertaking," Walker said. http://www.mobitv.com/ http://www.orange.co.uk/ http://www.three.co.uk/ http://www.vodafone.co.uk/ http://www.telefonica.com/

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