EU Names Mobile TV Standard

European telecommunications commissioner Viviane Reding has named DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting for Handhelds) as the single standard for mobile TV in Europe.

The use of the DVB-H standard will be legally encouraged in the 27 member states, with the Commission saying that if necessary it will mandate the use of DVB-H in 2008.

On announcing the decision, Reding said: “Mobile broadcasting is a tremendous opportunity for Europe to maintain and expand its leadership in mobile technology and audiovisual services.

“Europe is today at a crossroads. We can either take the lead globally – as we did for mobile telephony based on the GSM standard developed by the European industry – or allow other regions to take the lion’s share of the promised mobile TV market.

“Wait-and-see is not an option. The time has come for Europe’s industry and governments to switch on to mobile TV.”

The EU says that unless Europe takes concrete action immediately, it risks losing its competitive edge. For example, the mobile TV penetration rate of South Korea, Asia’s most developed mobile TV market, is close to 10%. Yet penetration in Italy, the EU’s most advanced market, is still less than 1%.

It added that the mobile TV market could be worth up to €20 billion by 2011, reaching some 500 million customers worldwide.

In March, Reding called on mobile operators to choose a standard or face the prospect of having one imposed.

She said that as DVB-H is already in use in 17 European Union countries and is an open standard, it should be welcomed (see Mobile Broadcasting Body Hits Out At EC Commissioner).

DVB-H was developed with almost €40 million (£27 million) of European research money.

European Commission: www.ec.europa.eu/