DVB-H to become European mobile video standard

The European mobile phone community was rocked by the news today that DVB-H (or Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) is set to become the new standard for mobile TV across the Union. The technology -- a superset of DVB-T -- has been spearheaded by Nokia, and this move is meant to help widen the system's audience. Though the move has been opposed by some EU states, such as Germany and Britain, the standard is being pushed through. "DVB-H will be published by the Commission in the list of official EU standards," said an EU executive, adding that, "As a result, all EU Member States will have to support and encourage the use of DVB-H for the launch of mobile TV services, thus avoiding market fragmentation and allowing economies of scale and accordingly affordable services and devices." So much for our fledgling standard, DVB-X (the X is for extreme).

[Michael @ Nov 29th 2007 9:48AM]

Is this the same technology used in Japan? It'd be nice for telecoms to start finding some universal standards. Patchwork formats have become the norm and that's pretty damn unfortunate.

[Jon @ Nov 29th 2007 9:50AM]

Are we ever going to get a mobile TV standard here in the US? I'd guess it will be a variant of IPTV once the cell networks get up to speed.

[Anthony @ Nov 29th 2007 10:07AM]

The US is almost unofficially standardized to Media-Flo. It's the choice of at&t, verizon and sprint. Probably TMo USA too although I don't think they decided for sure yet.

[L.Rawlins @ Nov 29th 2007 9:59AM]

I don't believe we have the available spectrum for the DVB-H specification here in England.

Hell, we can barely serve adequate 'Freeview' signals to conventional TV's at present... and that won't get any better in my particular area until the analog switch-off in 2012!

[L.Rawlins @ Nov 29th 2007 10:04AM]

Proof if it were needed: http://www.freeview.co.uk/switchover

[Anthony @ Nov 29th 2007 10:00AM]

The US is almost unofficially standardized to Media-Flo. It's the choice of at&t, verizon and sprint. Probably TMo USA too although I don't think they decided for sure yet.

[Lifelion @ Nov 29th 2007 10:29AM]

Why not simply use 3G in broadcast mode?
MBMS 3G or eMBMS LTE in the TDD spectrum already allocated to MNO?

[Joonas @ Nov 29th 2007 10:45AM]

IIRC, DVB-H data rate is between 2-30 Mbps. 3G is under 512 kbps.

[Semi @ Nov 29th 2007 10:35AM]

already behind as it is... lets get some mobile tv...

european standard..they cant even agree on a standard powerpoint/plug socket

[eurobloke @ Nov 29th 2007 11:20AM]

The choice of power plugs was set back in the 1950's. Plus, it was used to stop foreign appliances entering the British, Swiss and Danish markets.

The possibly of unifying the plugs are impossible due to the cost. However we have unify the voltage to 220V.

[Semi @ Nov 29th 2007 11:54AM]

uk still rocks to 240V
of course UK skipped the euro too.. so its no surprise!

[Rik @ Nov 29th 2007 12:19PM]

There is a list somewhere on the internet with the voltages of many countries. They have 240 in a lot more places.

What is interesting to see is that there exist 50Hz/110V and 60Hz/220V hybrids which is very funny.

Ah, here it is; http://www.kropla.com/electric2.htm

[Jakob H @ Nov 29th 2007 11:51AM]

Joonas: No, in Denmark 3 broadcast its 24 channels through HSPDA (between 3-7mbit).

But does this mean that ALL member states HAVE to implent DVB-H?

[Michael @ Nov 29th 2007 12:32PM]

"The technology -- a superset of DVB-T -- has been spearheaded by Nokia"

You guys know that 'superset' isn't an actual word, right?

[EdZ @ Nov 29th 2007 12:36PM]

You've never heard of set theory then, I take it?

[Michael @ Nov 29th 2007 4:28PM]

Statement retracted. Humble pie eaten.

[nonamo @ Nov 29th 2007 2:17PM]

I think they should call it DVB-M or something... to avoid it getting confused with DVB-HD, should it come along (not in my lifetime in the UK :P)

[blarvh @ Nov 29th 2007 7:24PM]

HD signals are sent over DVB-T, no?

[David Jerome @ Nov 30th 2007 7:41AM]

DVB-T will carry HD in the UK in 2012 onwards.

At the moment the UK has 5 analogue channels. When these disappear (2012) there will be enough bandwidth available for 10-15 1080 channels.

However more than likely you will get 1 BBC and the rest subscription based (top-up TV etc)!

[gary @ Nov 30th 2007 11:39AM]

Actually, Harmonisation of EU voltages and electrical systems has already began, we now have the new Colour coding in cables (Grey, Brown, Blue, Green) Instead of Red, Black, Blue & Green

And we are now on 220v, the tolerance is being upped to between 210v - 240v iirc.

Actually most 3 signals do around 1mbps and 3.5g which is pretty standard now is upto 7.8mbps

[David Jerome @ Nov 30th 2007 7:48AM]

Here in the UK we use DVB-T for normal TV. Why don't they just use that as its already in place?