Mobile operators launch TV trial in the UK

Four major mobile phone operators yesterday launched trials for a new mobile TV service, which will take place initially in the Bristol area.

The trial, which will run for the next three months, will test whether mobile operators into can use their existing infrastructure to deliver mobile TV and other multimedia services to users with compatible handsets.

The TDtv trial is a joint effort between operators 3 UK, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone and will test key performance and deployment aspects of the mobile TV technology.

TDtv base stations provided by IPWireless have been deployed on 12 cell sites covering parts of to provide broadcast services to around 100 mobile users

TDtv operates in the unused 3G spectrum bands that are available across Europe and Asia.This will allow mobile operators to use their existing spectrum and network infrastructure to offer subscribers mobile TV and multimedia packages without impacting other 3G services.

Orange spokesman Vivek Badrinath is excited about the collaboration between the four operators:

"It is encouraging to have so much industry interest and support in this exciting trial, we believe that it is important that leading service and content providers work together to examine options for future mobile TV platforms and pave the way for an enhanced customer experience and new era of mobile TV."

Analysts at Gartner predict that one in three phones will support broadcast mobile TV by 2012, though how many consumers will be prepared to pay (or use) for mobile TV remains to be seen.

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