German authorities demand DVB-H licence back

The German mobile TV operator Mobile 3.0 has to hand its DVB-H licence back, according to the Commission for Approval and Supervision of the Media Authorities (ZAK). “We expect the Mobile 3.0 consortium to return the licences at the end of October. With a quick return there is a way for a possible restart of DVB-H,”> said the chairman of the Commission, Henry Thomas Lang.

“Now we can also adequately respond to the changed technical and economic developments Should the licence not be returned, revocation proceedings will be started. Mobile 3.0 has not implemented its overall concept and neither are agreements with sales and marketing partners present,” according to Lang.

Since September 1, there is a a new legal situation in the country as a result of the new “Rundfunkstaatsvertrag” (national broadcasting framework) which makes the issuing of a national licence rather than state-by-state licences possible. Mobile 3.0 operates under a temporary licence.

“We should make every effort together with market participants to lift the treasure that is DVB-H,” said Lang.