Telstra says it is no hurry to jump on the
mobile television bandwagon just yet, as it adopts a wait-and-see stance to the new broadcasting
technology.The standard known as digital video broadcasting handheld (DVB-H) has been tested in a number of markets around the world - including Australia - with commercial
services recently launched in Albania, Italy and Vietnam.But Justin Milne, the managing director of Telstra broadband service BigPond, said the technology was still in a prototypal stage, making it impractical to consider rolling out in the near future."The whole
broadcast to mobile world - so called DVB-H - has a long way to go," Mr Milne said."And it may well be that when we finally deliver higher quality signals to mobile phones, it might be just through a different technology to DVB-H or it might be through DVB-H."Services like BigPond and FoxTel are increasingly streaming their
content - which includes on-demand video and some live broadcasts - to Telstra's Next G and third generation (3G) mobile
Service.The telco today announced a six-year contract with the National Rugby League to broadcast results and replays on its Next G, 3G and BigPond platforms.It will also screen live action footage and replays from the FINA World Swimming Championships to BigPond and mobile users this month.Mr Milne would not comment on a time frame in which he expected DVB-H to become a mainstream technology within Australia."You want to go and ask the government that," he said."We need the spectrum, the licences and the legislation and we don't have any of that at the moment."All we have is the spectrum broadly identified."Telstra and other Australian services currently broadcast a range of content to mobile phones - such as Next G - on a one-to-one basis through the existing mobile network.However, this is different to the DVB-H standard, which transmits digital televised content parallel to terrestrial transmission on a more efficient one-to-many basis.Digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), a rival mobile broadcast format to DVB-H, kicked off in South Korea last year and is in various phases of testing in other Asian and European markets.A number of handset producers such as Nokia and Sagem have already made mobile phones with DVB-H receivers and an 18-month trial of DVB-H in Sydney, which concluded in January, demonstrated the potential of the technology to broadcasters and users.However, Mr Milne said Telstra was in no hurry to launch into the spectrum."We need to work our way carefully forwards from here so that we don't all put lots of money and lots of effort into launching something that doesn't work," he said.© 2007 Australian Associated Press Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors. This is the CNET.com.au service with content provided by AAP. AAP reserves all rights, including copyright, in services provided by it. The information, text and images in the service are for personal use only and may not be re-written, copied, re-sold or re-distributed, framed, linked or otherwise used whether for compensation of any kind or not, without the prior written permission of AAP.This service is published for information only without assuming a duty of care. AAP is not in the business of providing professional advice, and gives no warranty, guarantee or other representation about the accuracy of the information or images contained in this service. AAP is not liable for errors, omissions in, delays or interruptions to or cessation of the services through negligence or otherwise. The globe symbol and "AAP" are registered trade marks
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