Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Portugal demonstrated late last month in Portugal a mobile TV delivery system based on DVB-SH technology.
For the demonstration, the companies transmitted live signals from Euronews, RTP Mobile and other sources to DVB-SH-enabled handsets provided by Sagem Mobiles. The transmission used the S-band frequency spectrum (2.17GHz–2.20GHz), which is already in place throughout Europe and can be used for the EU-wide delivery of mobile satellite services, including such data-rich applications as mobile television. Representatives of the Portuguese government and the broadcast, telecom and media sectors were on hand to watch the broadcast.
Alcatel-Lucent and Vodafone Portugal conducted the demonstration to promote DVB-SH as a possible implementation for delivering mobile TV services across the EU. Because DVB-SH can operate in a spectrum more readily available across the continent than that used for DVB-H, a terrestrial mobile TV standard, it might clear the way for a quicker uptake of mobile TV among European consumers.
In August of this year, the European Commission (EC) adopted a proposal to select systems for mobile satellite services at the European level. If adopted by the European Parliament and the EU Council, this new selection mechanism will allow such services as mobile TV based on DVB-SH in the S-band to develop more consistently throughout Europe by the end of the decade.
The demonstration took place on the premises of the Parque das Nações in Lisbon, where the informal Summit of the EU Heads of State and Government took place on Oct. 18-19.
For more information, visit www.alcatel-lucent.com.
