The two main German mobile operators, T-Mobile and Vodafone, will push DVB-T reception on handsets and plan its introduction in time for the start of the Euro 2008 football championship. The move is a blow to DVB-H technology.
During the month of May, Vodafone will introduce two models with a DVB-T tuner, one from LG and another from Gigabyte. The operator showcased the models earlier this year at the CeBIT expo in Hanover (see earlier report in Broadband TV News). T-Mobile will also bring at least one model to the market in time for the championships, which will take place in June.
Until now, DVB-T reception was cumbersome in mobile phones, requiring an outside antenna and using considerable battery power. However, new technical developments will make reception easier. The big advantage of DVB-T in the German market, at least to the consumer, is the fact that all channels are available free to air; the DVB-H licence holder, Mobile 3.0, expects to collect a monthly subscription fee.
