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DigiTAGWeb LetterNovember 2007 | # 65 DigiTAG seeks to inform members and non-members about important developments in the digital terrestrial television market. Each month, DigiTAG distributes its web letter with news updates and further exploration of one topic.To subscribe to the DigiTAG Web Letter, send an email to the DigiTAG Project Office. DigiTAG Annual Public SeminarJoin DigiTAG for its next Annual Public Seminar that will provide an overview of some of the hot topics affecting the DTT market. The seminar will take place on 4 December at the EBU headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Topics include: Click here for the full agenda Status of DVB-H servicesLast July, the EU Commissioner for the Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, called for the adoption of the DVB-H standard for mobile television services in Europe. While mandating a single standard for the provision of mobile television services has been resisted, DVB-H services are slowly becoming the favoured system for mobile television in Europe. And while other systems to deliver mobile television services are also proposed, including T-DMB and DVB-SH, they will likely serve as a complement to existing DVB-H services where lack of spectrum is a major constraint. Expected launches in 2008Various countries have announced that they will launch DVB-H services in 2008 including Belgium, the Netherlands, and Russia. However, the most concrete and visible planning has taken place in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and France. Switzerland and Austria The Swiss regulator, BAKOM, allocated a mobile television license to Swisscom Broadcast at the end of September 2007. While BAKOM did not specify which mobile television standard to use, its preference for DVB-H had been understood in the licensing conditions. Swisscom Broadcasting will now be responsible for setting up a DVB-H network that it must make available to all mobile telecom operators in Switzerland including Swisscom Mobile, Orange and Sunrise. According to the licensing conditions, mobile television services must be made available in the four Swiss UEFA EURO 2008 host cities, Basel, Berne, Geneva, and Zurich, by the end of May. By 2012, DVB-H services must be available to at least 50% of the population. In Austria, candidates have until 14 December to submit their bid for the DVB-H network license on one multiplex, MUX D, which will offer a combination of free-to-air and pay services. Possible candidates for the license include the broadcast network operator ORS as well as the mobile telecom operators Mobilkom and One. Germany and France DVB-H services will be launched in June 2008, although a pre-commercial launch may be possible as early as in March. As a next step, Mobile 3.0 must present its planned service offering which must include regional content as well as four radio services. The license for the operation of the DVB-H network has been allocated to the network operator T-Systems, a former subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom recently acquired by the French network operator TDF. Fifteen major cities will have DVB-H services available by the end of 2008 while all cities with at least 150,000 inhabitants will have services available by the end of 2009. By 2015, 90% of the population should be able to access DVB-H services. Last week, the French broadcast regulator Conseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA) invited candidates to tender for mobile television broadcast licenses using the DVB-H standard. A total of 13 licenses are available to commercial broadcasters who can propose to offer free-to-air or pay services, general entertainment or thematic content. Three additional service slots have been reserved for the public service broadcaster France Télévisions. DVB-H services will initially be available in cities using frequencies from the multiplex M7. At least 30% of the population must be able to access services within three years with an expectation that the population coverage will reach 60% within six years. However, full roll-out has not been defined and will depend on the success of the service offering. Candidates have until 15 January 2008 to apply for the licenses. The CSA expects to select candidates in April 2008 and deliver the formal broadcast authorisation in June 2008. The service launch date has not yet been announced although pre-commercial services could be available in time for the Summer Olympic Games. Launched DVB-H servicesIn June 2006, 3Italia became the first operator in the world to launch DVB-H services. It offers viewers 12 television programme services with a coverage of over 60% of the Italian population. Services can be purchased as part of a bundled offering with voice services or separately on a pay-per-view basis. According to 3Italia, mobile television subscriptions are fast approaching 10% of all subscribers. In September 2006, Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) launched DVB-H services while Vodafone Italia launched its DVB-H services in December 2006. In late 2006, DVB-H services were launched in Finland, Albania and Vietnam. In Finland, the network operator Digita rolled out a DVB-H network to 25% of the population and will increase coverage to 40% of the population by the end of 2007 following analogue switch-off. In Albania, DVB-H services are available to 65% of the population while in Vietnam services are available in the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. In 2007, commercial DVB-H services were launched in India, Nigeria and the Philippines. The public service broadcaster Doordarshan launched services in Delhi offering 8 free-to-air television programme services. In Nigeria, broadcast operator Details Nigeria and mobile telecom operator MTN launched 12 free-to-air services in the capital Abuja with further roll-out expected in 2008 while MyTV launched DVB-H services in several urban areas in the Philippines. Updated DVB-H handbookFollowing on the success of its DVB-H handbook published in March 2005, DigiTAG has issued a revised version of the Handbook with up-to-date information on the latest DVB-H activities. Updates have been made to the sections on country activities, and technical issues while new information has been added about the results of the commercial DVB-H trials and the regulatory environment following the adoption of the Geneva 2006 Agreement. The revised DVB-H
Handbook can be downloaded from the DigiTAG
website
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DTT NEWS ROUND-UPFor access to the full articles archive, please go to DigiTAG News United Kingdom - ASO completed in WhitehavenThis morning at 2am, the three remaining analogue channels, BBC One, ITV1 and Channel 4, were switched off in Whitehaven. This follows from the switch-off of BBC Two on 17 October and completes digital switchover in the area. Since 3.27am, new digital services are available. Viewers in Whitehaven can access 20 television and 10 radio programme services. Source: Digital UK press releasesIreland - ComReg publishes DTT license conditionsThe national spectrum management agency, the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has issued its licensing framework for DTT services in Ireland. ComReg has decided that DTT multiplex licenses will have a 12 year duration and be subject to a fixed license fee. It also calls on the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to establish coverage requirements. The technical parameters for the DTT multiplex include the possibility to use the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC video compression formats, and the use of the DVB-SSU standard for "over-the-air" downloads. Source: ComReg websiteSpain - 7 million DTT receivers expected to be sold by end of yearThe roll-out and uptake of DTT services is progressing smoothly in Spain. In two years, full DTT coverage will be achieved while analogue switch-off to be completed on 3 April 2010. Already, 6.3 million DTT receivers have been sold with an estimated 7 million receivers expected to be sold by the end of the year. In addition, 45% of buildings with a communal aerial system have now had their aerials adapted to receiver DTT services. Source: Rapid TV NewsEstonia - HD/DTT trial continuesHDTV services continue to be available on the DTT platform as part of a trial that initially began in June 2007. Since August, viewers can access two new HD services, LUXE.TV HD and VOOM HD. The HD/DTT trial is available to approximately 50% of the population with services available in the capital Tallin and its surrounding region as well as in the southern part of Estonia. The trial will continue at least until the end of the year. However, it may be possible that the trial license is renewed in which case the trial will continue until April 2008. Source: LeviraSwitzerland - Further ASO on 26 NovemberAnalogue switch-off will take place in the German-speaking part of Switzerland on 26 November. Analogue switch-off took place in the French-speaking region in June 2007 and in the Italian-speaking region in July 2006. Full switch-off is expected in February 2008, when the mountainous region of the Valais switches off its analogue services. Source: Broadband TV NewsEuropean Commission issues telecom proposalThe European Commission (EC) has formally proposed a reform to the European Union's telecom rules. It would like to set up a new European Telecom Market Authority to support national telecoms regulators in ensuring that market rules and consumer regulation are applied consistently and independently in all Member States. Furthermore, the EC would like to change the current spectrum management practices and make some spectrum available for wireless broadband services. To become law, the proposals will need the approval of the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers. Source: EC press releaseSlovenia - DTT legislation approved by National AssemblyThe National Assembly has approved the legal framework allowing for digital broadcasting. It has set 2010 as the deadline for digital switchover. Four multiplexes will be reserved for DTT services and will use the MPEG-4 AVC compression format. One multiplex has been reserved for the public service broadcaster, RTV SLO. Source: advanced-television.com |
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