The DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) specification successfully passed technical testing by 22 participants from eight countries. DVB-H is one of three prominent mobile standards that are vying for the attention of broadcasters and manufacturers of cell phones and other handheld devices. Now, Wing-TV's validation has ensured that DVB-H will be the accepted European standard. The standard has earned the support of broadcasters, network operators, and device manufacturers, as well as gaining European Commission endorsement.
The DVB Forum (an industry-wide consortium for developing digital broadcasting) devised DVB-H to link digital terrestrial broadcasting (DVB-T) and mobile telephone networks. The next stage to realising the vision for ubiquitous wireless broadband access was testing and validating the specification; this is where Celtic's Wing-TV project played a central and ultimately decisive role.
Key objectives for the two-year Wing-TV project included verifying the compatibility of DVB-H with terrestrial digital services, checking the interoperability of appliances, and setting goals for broadcasting services. Overall, the aim was to sustain European leadership against competing standards, notably those developed in South Korea and the USA. Participants, who met regularly, conducted country-specific field trials, laboratory tests, channel modelling and simulation activities.
Strengths… and improvements
The project confirmed just about all expectations for the technology; these included delivering significant benefits at each end of the broadcast channel. Operators can avoid new costs by making use of existing TV infrastructure. Through the system of broadcasting signals in ultra-short bursts – "time slicing" – consumers save up to 90% of a device's battery power. Furthermore, time slicing helps avoid overloading the present third generation (3G) mobile communications networks. The high bandwidth of DVB-H also proved superior, with the capacity to carry more than 50 programmes.
For the full success story please visit www.eurekanetwork.org
More information: Mr. Milon Gupta, Public Relations, CELTIC Office, tel. +49 6221 989 121, fax. +49 6221 989 451, gupta@celtic-initiative.org