Bidding opened for Mobile TV Spectrum

The Office of the Telecommunications Authority in Hong Kong (OFTA) has invited applications for a “TV service to mobiles”, to operate between 678-686 MHz in the UHF band.
Even though Hong Kong has adopted the Chinese digital terrestrial system for TV broadcasting it says that the auction for a mobile TV services is technologically neutral. As a result they will accept applications for any widely accepted technology that will work within the terms and conditions of the licence in the 8MHz slot offered.
“At present, 2.5G and 3G mobile operators are deploying streaming-type point-to-point technologies to deliver audio-visual content to consumers. The assignment of the 678-686 MHz band will enable the deployment of broadcast-type point-to-multipoint technologies to deliver audio-visual content to a much larger number of consumers.” according to an OFTA spokesman.
The licence will be valid for 15 years and the successful bidder will be required to use at least 75% of the transmission capacity to deliver mobile TV content. Service coverage must reach at least 50% of the Hong Kong population within 18 months from the grant of the licence.
OFTA will conduct an industry briefing for interested parties on the 31st March 2010 and accept bidding applications on the 22nd and 23rd April 2010.
Source: OFTA
Item added: 8th March 2010