Qualcomm and Teleepoch Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October 6, 2007

MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6, 2007

Brazilian government to publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007

KTF 3G service suffers from technical problems, October 6, 2007

Argentina’s Personal lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007

Russia has it's first 3G network, October 6, 2007

AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007

Enea Extends License Agreement with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007

LG to unveil premium handsets in Brazil, October 2, 2007

KTF 3G subscribers doubled in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007

3G policy in India will be non-uniform, October 2, 2007

- previous news

SES ASTRA starts Dutch mobile TV trail

September 11, 2005

SES ASTRA, a SES GLOBAL company, announced an agreement with KPN and 3G Media Consult to participate in the Dutch Mobile Interactive TV trial. During the trial, television programmes will be transmitted via the Nozema Services infrastructure to selected subscribers in the Netherlands equipped with Nokia DVB-H mobile phones.

Early DVB-H test results

Results announced by Nokia from one of the world's first commercial mobile TV pilots in Helsinki reveal that 41% of pilot participants would be willing to purchase mobile TV services, and half thought that a fixed monthly fee of 10 euros was a reasonable price to pay. Over half (58%) said they believed broadcast mobile TV services would be popular.

The Dutch trial

In the follow-on Dutch Mobile Interactive TV trial, SES ASTRA will support KPN, Nozema Services, Digitenne and Nokia to test the technical and commercial aspects of broadcast mobile TV using the DVB-H standard. With DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld), content is transmitted with a very high picture and audio quality to large numbers of mobile users.

An important part of the Dutch study will consist of evaluating the opportunities for interactive services made possible by combining a broadcast service with a mobile network.

Real Interactive services

Under the agreement, SES ASTRA will provide one feed of TV content showing recent film trailers and Hollywood news, integrated with an interactive movie quiz. The feed will be captured and broadcast via Nozema Services' infrastructure to the participants' mobile phones. The film newscast, interactive phone components and mobile downloads will be assembled by 3G Media Consult BV, a mobile content service provider. The video clips will be updated frequently and serve to validate both the technical and the commercial solutions.

What is Mobile TV Broadcasting?

Mobile TV Broadcasting allows users to watch their favourite TV programmes, such as dramas, news, music, sports and documentaries, on their mobile device. Channel guides can also be transmitted, allowing users to keep abreast of the latest programmes on air. Unlike streaming video over 3G or GPRS, DVB-H transmission is a true broadcast, like digital satellite or terrestrial TV, optimised for low battery power consumption.