EC issues mobile TV guidelines to accelerate uptake

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EC issues mobile TV guidelines to accelerate uptake

By CAROLINE GABRIEL

Published: 11 December, 2008

READ MORE: Europe | MobileTV

There may be serious doubts about the commercial viability of the DVB-H platform for mobile TV, but the European Commission is determined to maintain its support for its favored standard. The EC, seeking to foster the mobile TV market within its borders, has

published a set of guidelines to accelerate roll-out.

"Successful commercial launches of mobile TV in Austria, Italy, Finland and the Netherlands have proved that efficient authorization procedures are a key factor for the fast take-up of mobile TV," said a statement from telecoms and media commissioner Viviane Reding. "In Austria, 5,000 citizens were using mobile TV within the first weeks of its launch. This is why we want to give Member States guidance on how to allow industry to get these innovative services on track as quickly and smoothly as possible."

Reding said she wanted to evolve a framework that would support a collaborative approach between broadcasters, mobile operators and platform provider, and would avoid "heavy regulation or burdensome authorization procedures".

The main principles that the EC has identified for regulators, when authorizing operators to provide mobile TV, include a "straightforward, transparent and non-discriminatory procedure for awarding licences", which should include mandates on quality of service, including indoor coverage, and withdrawal of licenses if operators do not hit roll-out deadlines.

The principles also advise regulators to keep the authorization process open to all industry players and create conditions which encourage cooperation between operators and broadcasters. Finally, they call upon the industry to make sure that DVB-H based mobile TV services in every EU country work together by choosing fully standard equipment.