26th November 2004 - Nokia today welcomed the announcement
by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI) that DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast - Handheld)
is to be adopted as the standard in Europe for mobile
TV services.
DVB-H is a new technology that enables the simultaneous
transmission of multiple television, radio and video channels
to mobile handheld devices. It combines traditional broadcasting
standards with specific features for handheld devices.
To receive DVB-H transmissions, handsets require an additional
integrated receiver. Nokia plans to bring a commercial
mobile TV handset with integrated DVB-H to market globally
in 2006.
"This announcement is an important step forward in
making commercial mobile TV services a reality,"
said Richard Sharp, Vice President, Rich Media, Nokia.
"DVB-H is a groundbreaking technology that will facilitate
the widespread adoption of mobile TV around the world.
We are delighted that ETSI has adopted the DVB-H standard
for Europe and started the trend for the global adoption
of DVB-H."
Mobile TV presents a number of unique challenges, such
as battery-powered receivers and a variety of situations
of use (e.g. indoor, outdoor, pedestrian, inside moving
vehicle). DVB-H provides the most efficient way of carrying
multimedia services over digital terrestrial broadcasting
networks to handheld terminals.
To overcome these challenges, DVB-H uses a variety of
techniques including time-slicing to reduce a device's
average power consumption, cell identifiers to support
quicker signal scan and frequency handover as well as
methods to improve signal strength in the mobile environment.
The technical specification work has been done in the
Digital Video Broadcasting Project (DVB), which is an
industry-led consortium committed to designing global
standards for the global delivery of digital television
and data services.
DVB-H technology is being piloted in the United States
by Crown Castle and Nokia. The pilot has started in October
in the Pittsburgh, PA, area and it aims to prove and test
the feasibility of DVB-H technology and related service
systems in the United States.
ETSI is responsible for the standardization of information
and communication technologies within Europe. It is made
up of manufacturers, network operators, administrators,
service providers, research bodies and users. Their acceptance
of DVB-H as the standard for mobile TV paves the way for
people to receive television-like content through a mobile
phone.
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