O2 Mobile opens its DVB-H TV trial — MobileMonday Global: Industry News

^{Teams up with Arqiva, Nokia} O2 Mobile opens its DVB-H TV trial

25 Sep 2005 at 17:32 GMT Timo Poropudas

O2 and Arqiva (previously known as NTL Broadcast) have teamed up with Nokia as well as terrestrial and satellite broadcasters to kick-off the U.K.’s first trial of full multi-channel mobile TV. The service is based on the new DVB-H (digital video broadcasting - handheld) transmission standard rather than DAB-based technology. It broadcasts by beaming a signal to a digital TV receiver, which is attached to Nokia’s new 7710 handset. In the trial 16 channels are being offered to O2 customers, including BBC ONE, BBC TWO, BBC News 24, ITV 1, ITV 2, Channel 4 and Five, which will provide a core of mainstream channels coupled with programmes from British Eurosport and variety of specialty channels. The trial will run for up to six months look at how people choose to catch up on TV shows, how they watch music videos and keep up to date with the news and sport when on the move, and provide an understanding of how much customers are willing to pay for the service. Arqiva is aggregating the content and operating the trial service, and also providing the DVB-H transmitter network that will cover an area of 120 sq km centred on Oxford. Nokia has provided the handsets and is working on a new range of devices for the future with in-built DVB-H capabilities. All major mobile phone manufacturers are building their own TV capable handsets. O2 customers taking part in the trial do not pay to watch the TV, however all voice and data calls are charged under their existing tariff plan.