The first DVB-SH trial launched in Turin by the public broadcaster RAI, mobile operator 3 Italia, Alcatel-Lucent and Eutelsat has been declared a success by the participants.
The initial results of the trial demonstrated the high reception performances of the new technology for mobile TV on commercial terminals. Once fully deployed, this solution will capture mobile TV signals both from satellite and terrestrial networks.
According to Alcatel-Lucent, the trial was overseen by RAI Research & Innovation Centre and 3 Italia. Alcatel-Lucent provided the DVB-SH transmission equipment, the network integration and the necessary technical support. Eutelsat meanwhile provided the satellite capacity for content distribution, as well as uplink facilities.
The first phase of this trial confirmed the capability of DVB-SH technology to integrate terrestrial broadcast networks with 3G mobile network and to make available a large number of high-quality mobile TV channels, in various usage conditions.
In a second phase of the trial, after the launch in March 2009 of Eutelsat’s W2A satellite, which will carry an S-band payload managed by Solaris Mobile (a joint venture of Eutelsat and SES Astra), the full capabilities of DVB-SH-based services by satellite and terrestrial network infrastructure will be demonstrated in a real business situation.
A sample panel of users with commercial DVB-SH handsets and in-car devices will become part of the first large scale demonstration of DVB-SH mobile broadcasting in Europe. Furthermore, high and very-high power DVB-SH terrestrial transmission equipment will be added to the network.
