DVB-H

DVB -H ( Digital Video Broadcasting of English - handhelds to German Digital video broadcasting for handheld devices ) is a transmission standard, can be received with the digital broadcast programs on small and / or mobile devices. DVB -H was known during the design and development phase, under the name of DVB -M ( for mobile ) and DVB -X.

• 2.4.1 Italy
• 2.4.2 The Netherlands
• 2.4.3 Switzerland
• 2.4.4 Austria

Technology

DVB -H is a standard for the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI ) (EN 302 304, November 2004 ).

With DVB -H multimedia services (especially television) can be sent to mobile phones and other small mobile devices via radio. DVB -H as the digital terrestrial television DVB- T broadcast terrestrially and is based on this technology. To add DVB -T standard came 4K IFFT, longer interleaver ( in - depth), time slicing and MPE - FEC. Videos can be coded with modern video compression techniques, such BH264/AVC (MPEG -4 Part 10, Advanced Video Coding), as it is in the not yet in widespread DVB -S2 already done.

The exact data rates and resolutions can be adapted according to the capacity of the station network and the requirements of the terminal. In most networks, a resolution of 320 × 240 pixels (QVGA ) at about 300 kbit / s is used today; also in consideration come in one quarter of the usual digital TV Resolution: 352 × 288 pixels ( CIF).

DVB -H is to transport stream level compatible with DVB -T. It can therefore be produced mixed DVB-H/T-Multiplexe, so that both systems share the corresponding channel.

DVB -H can be broadcast among other things, on the following frequency bands:

• VHF Band III 170-230 MHz according
• UHF IV / V corresponding to the 470-862 MHz
• L-band in the range from 1.452 to 1.492 GHz.

The required power consumption of the mobile receiving devices is significantly reduced by a time division multiplexing ( time-slicing ). This is achieved, inter alia, that the belonging to a program packages are shipped at predictable points in time, so that the receiver can be switched off in the meantime, to save energy. Packets are collected thereby transmitted in so-called bursts. The highest power saving efficiency is achieved if a complete DVB ensemble with DVB- H services is filled, but starting from the use of about a quarter of the data rate of a DVB-T channel by DVB-H, the use of time- slicing in a reducing power consumption of about 40 mW for the pure DVB- H receiver. A disadvantage resulting from the use of time slicing, the switching time between two extended channels. This can - according to the reception conditions - are between 4 and 15 seconds. The reason for this is the need to wait after switching to the expected burst is transmitted and the transmission is completed fully and accurately. Furthermore, the burst must contain enough information so that its contents can be spoken continuously.

Use

Use worldwide

Meanwhile, there are 15 providers in the world, DVB -H in control mode offer (August 2008). Mainly in Europe, Asia and Africa. In New York ( USA) runs a "Beta Service " with selected users.

Use in Europe

According to the DVB -H world premiere in June 2006 in Italy by the mobile operator Three, launched in June 2008, KPN in the Netherlands.

End of 2007, had 750,000 customers, the DVB- H services of 3 in Italy.

The European Commission has decided on 18 July 2007 for the introduction of DVB -H as the single European system for Mobile TV and actively participates in the distribution. Meanwhile (3/ 08), the European Commission decided to DVB -H included in the EU list of standards and specifications, as a decision support for consumers and to promote mobile TV with the definition of a standard.

Initially, the German Federal spoke against giving special frequencies, especially in the L band, exclusive to reserve for DVB -H.

Used in German-speaking

2008 in southern Germany the DVB -T transmitter HR3 was shut down in favor of DVB- H test programs. Then was heard of it, because then came the first phones with DVB- T on the market any more.

Development in Austria

The introduction of mobile TV over DVB -H had already taken 2007, the first hurdle in Austria - the relevant legislative amendments had happened on 30 May 2007 the Council of Ministers. A basic package should be a small, constant charge mobile receivable. End of June 2007, the pilot project " mobile tv austria" completed, in which around 1,000 selected users in Vienna the new media generation DVB -H tested. The findings: The Wiener test used mobile TV especially on the eve of the week at home. On average, they saw a half-hour of television a day and then especially messages.

On 29 February 2008 the competent authority RTR gave the DVB -H license to the consortium of Media Broadcast, 3 and one (now Orange ).

By June 6, 2008 - just in time for the 2008 European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland - was the DVB -H range of one and 3 and the newly added Mobilkom Austria is available and includes 15 television station ORF 1, ORF 2, ATV, Puls 4, ProSieben Austria, RTL, Sat.1 Austria, VOX, laola1.tv, LALA ( Universal Music TV), Crown TV, Red Bull TV, RTL 2, N24, Super RTL and five radio stations: Ö3, FM4, KroneHit, OE1 and LoungeFM. As of August 8, 2008 DVB -H was received in all nine provincial capitals of Austria. The end of 2009 could theoretically slightly more than 50 % of the population are supplied with DVB -H.

However, the DVB -H offered could hardly win audience (estimated maximum 10000-15000 ) and was discontinued on December 31, 2010.

Development in Switzerland

In Switzerland also DVB-H licenses were advertised. The contract of the competent authority ComCom received on 28 September 2007, Swisscom.

The commercial operation began Swisscom on 13 May 2008 under the product name ' Bluewin TV mobile ' - for the time being with a terminal and twenty channels including electronic program guide ( Electronic Program Guide).

After initial strong growth of the DVB- customer numbers for Euro 2008, this leveled off in the summer of 2008. In October 2008, Swisscom had claims to less than 5000 DVB-H customers and thus fell short of our own expectations. The Swisscom made ​​for the lack of success the fact responsible for ensuring that in Switzerland until September 2008, only the Nokia N77 was as DVB- H reception device. Only in October 2008, the number of receivers has been extended to four. The in Switzerland is the most watched programs on the mobile phone are live broadcasts

In October 2008, DVB -H was receivable for 44% of the populated areas, according to the Swisscom, especially in urban Bern, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne and Zurich. Available are the channels SF 1, SF zwei, News & Meteo ( German ), Tele- Club ( German ), Tele Club Sport Flash ( German ), SF info, Pro 7, RTL, RTL 2, SAT 1, VOX, ARD, ZDF, VIVA Switzerland, MTV, euro Sport, TSR 1, TSR 2, News & Meteo (French), Tele- Club (French), Tele Club Sport Flash ( french), TF1, France 2, France 3, M6, TS 1, TS 2, Rai Uno, Canale 5

The DVB -H range of Swisscom have been adjusted by 23 March 2010.

Development in Germany

2006 attracted the mobile network operator T -Mobile, Vodafone, E-Plus and O2 in a joint press release positive results from the previous joint pilot project and resumierten: "The role of technology and innovation leader that Germany still distinguished for its first technical pilot projects in 2004, the country has on this issue already given. " By this time, already commercially available in Italy DVB -H.

The appeal of mobile network operators aimed at federal and state governments, now to forgive the necessary licenses quickly.

The Federal Network Agency voted on 15 October 2007, formerly belonging to T-Systems Media Broadcast as DVB-H broadcast network operators, and awarded to them so that frequencies for a nationwide DVB-H coverage. The structure of the commercial network began in the spring of 2008.

On 16 October 2007, the General Conference of State Media Authorities decided to give the consortium " Mobile 3.0 " the license for the transmission mode. There is television and Germany NEVA Media operated as a joint venture between the two companies MFD Mobiles in which media companies such as Hubert Burda Media and the publishing group Georg von Holtzbrinck are involved.

Although a co-operation of the mobile network operator T- Mobile, Vodafone and O2 received approval from the Federal Cartel Office, but not the bid for the license.

Friedrich Joussen, CEO of Vodafone Germany, said in May 2008 publicly that he considers DVB -H failed.

On 1 June 2008, the consortium began Mobile 3.0 with the test operation in Hamburg, southern Bavaria (First test phase before in Munich and Wendelstein ), Frankfurt am Main and Hanover. During the test mode, a total of nine television and three radio stations were broadcast. The station Das Erste and ZDF, the future regional program Germany 24 and the three radio stations bigMUSIC, MyFun radio and 90elf sent unencrypted. RTL, VOX, Sat.1, ProSieben and n- tv and N24 were sent encrypted. The test mode should be used to test the transmission and receiving technology and the testing of encryption.

A regular transmission mode was announced only after completion of at this time still ongoing licensing by the state media institutions.

After 2008 there were signs of a setting of the DVB-H operation in July, it is now clear that the consortium Mobile 3.0 failed with the intention to launch mobile TV via DVB -H commercial. October 31, 2008 had to Mobile 3.0 return the broadcasting licenses of the state media institutions. The licenses should be re-tendered. We 've found that " an adherence to this pilot not bring the DVB- H project ," argues Thomas Lang Henry, Chairman of the Commission for the approval and supervision of the State Media Authorities ( ZAK ).

After DVB-T mobile phones became available, the further success of DVB- H but uncertain. To still find a market for the technology, called Rudolf Groeger, Mobile 3.0 - president that DVB-T mobile phones are likely to no longer be sold in Germany. In southern Bavaria, the frequencies were reserved until January 2010, now has to be received at this time slot EinsExtra in DVB -T mode.

In January 2010, the ZAK appealed to the prospects of DVB- H to apply for a new tender for broadcasting licenses in March 2010. After the part of the major mobile operators now but there is no interest, no new tender was held to date.

DVB-H terminal

Italy

Commercially available:

• LG HB620, U960, U900
• Samsung: SGH- F510, P910
• Momo Design MD -3
• Nokia: Nokia N96

Netherlands

Commercially available:

• Samsung SGH - P960
• LG KB620
• Nokia: Nokia N96

Switzerland

Commercially the offer was available until the setting as Bluewin TV mobile Swisscom.:

• Nokia: N96
• LG KB620
• Samsung SGH - P960

Future models should support mobile TV only via the UMTS mobile network. For this purpose, the mobile network has already been developed and improved data compression. The required increase in performance as the mobile network and at the mobile devices is the trade press opinion not yet been sufficient two years ago. The advantage is now the widespread availability outside the metropolitan areas.

Austria

Commercially available were:

• Nokia: 5530 Mobile TV edition, N77, N96
• ZTE: RBM1, MD900, MF635 ( HSDPA data modem with integrated DVB- H receiver )

Business models

Currently, there are in the various countries where DVB -H is already commercially available, also different revenue models. So there is one hand free TV models, on the other hand, pay-TV models. In Austria, mobile operators offer three, one and A1 (or Red Bull Mobile ) DVB -H usually for a monthly fee at the same time many (mainly Austrian ) stations are also transmitted via UMTS streaming, so this also is not DVB -H can be received -enabled UMTS mobile phones. In some tariff models is watching TV via UMTS streaming, more rarely, DVB -H, included free of charge. In Italy, 3 June 2008, some TV channels via DVB -H free, including the public broadcaster Rai Uno and Rai Due.