Virgin Mobile to launch DVB-H service

MVNO Virgin Mobile France and broadcast services provider TDF plan to launch DVB-H mobile TV services in the second half of 2011. (official date is the 22nd April 2010).
In a joint press release, the groups announced that they had signed a deal allowing Omer Telecom, the parent company of Virgin Mobile France, Tele2 Mobile France, Breizh Mobile and Casino Mobile, to be the exclusive mobile distributor at the launch of mobile TV services in France.
The service is due to cover half of the French population at launch, or more than 2,500 towns and cities, well over the 30 percent threshold set by CSA.
Their agreement has now been approved by the communications regulator CSA.
As a next step, the broadcasters with a licence on the mobile television platform will need to designate a multiplex operator by 8 June 2010.
TV services are already up and running in four European countries, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria, where they have helped to offload mobile TV traffic from cellular networks. DVB-H picture quality is also considered superior to streaming mobile video.
Source: Telecompaper and CSA website
Item added: 30th April 2010