The concept of and various technologies for interactive TV have existed for many years. Israel business news site Globes Online reports Bezeq and Runcom Will Test the Emerging DVB-RCT Standard. The two companies signed a cooperation agreement to test and launch a field trial of the DVB-RCT standard in Israel based on Runcom's orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technology. A field trial is scheduled for the first half of 2004. Runcom is a technology company focusing on the broadband wireless access and digital interactive TV markets. Bezeq is Israel's national telecommunications provider. Its R&D lab has two DVB-T based digital TV stations on the air.
If you are interested in the DVB-RCT ("Return Channel Terrestrial"), a Runcom presentation from 2002 is available from Itelco-USA at www.itelco-usa.com/download/Runcom.pdf. The graphics in the presentation make it easier to see how the technology works. Also see the DVB White Paper - DVB Return Channel Terrestrial.
