Nokia Corp’s VP Multimedia Mark Selby, whom we have spoken to on previous occasions, has been quoted throughout the UK press bemoaning the fact that the UK has virtually no UHF spectrum that it can free up for DVB-H, and calling for Channel 36 to be groomed for it now.
Selby was speaking to delegates at the Broadcasting 2017 event in London, and argued that the UK was risking tens of thousands of creative jobs as it adopts an approach to UHF spectrum that will mean France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and many other European countries would have operational DVB-H mobile TV networks before the UK even has an auction.
Selby explained that France, which last week cleared the way for a 2008 launch of commercial DVB-H services, will create 10,000 jobs immediately due to the launch.
At present the UK is in a serious bind compared to the rest of Europe, and the US, and regulator Ofcom is currently negotiating the use of L-Band (1452 to 1492 MHz) for DVB-H or a rival technology to offer mobile TV, whereas it is allocated to DAB digital radio in neighboring countries. That will result in the transmitter network costing between twice and four times as much to build and devices which are different from the rest of Europe, and therefore not benefiting from economies of scale, and so more expensive.
Nokia has a vested interest to try to push DVB-H across Europe with a strong business in that area, and strong intellectual property in the standard, and succeeded in convincing the European Commission to endorse DVB-H as the sole European standard for broadcast mobile TV.
Selby called for Channel 36 to be made available almost immediately, which he says is on schedule to be vacated by early 2009. Channel 36 is used for TV in most countries but in the UK is used by non-military aircraft radar. It will take a few years to vacate this space, and a replacement has to be found, first and someone has to pay for new equipment for a new radar scheme. Most experts believe that by the time Channel 36 is ready, other spectrum from the switch over from analog to digital TV will be available, although that is set for 2012 in the UK.
Selby suggests that if Ofcom auctions Channel 36 now, then a network build out can be begun, in readiness for it the spectrum being vacated during 2009.
It is these problems that led Faultline to predicting that the UK would use MBMS or a similar cellular multicast technology (like the IP Wireless TDtv) to launch mobile TV services, when cellular unicast services saturate during the next year or so.
The other option available is the satellite hybrid system recommended by Alcatel referred to as DVB-SH, which has first come, first served spectrum across Europe
The UK hosts the 2012 Olympic Games, and while China is likely to have its own mobile TV technology working in time for the 2008 Olympics it is hosting, the UK might miss the 2012 deadline.
BT Movio has already tried to launch a mobile TV service in the UK using DAB-IP which relies on existing DAB radio multiplexes, but the quality was far too poor and the service was scrapped.