Ireland’s second-largest mobile operator O2 said today that trials of broadcast mobile TV services will commence in December with the main Irish TV channels plus Sky available over this new medium.
The company has received an all-island licence to trial DVB-H (digital video broadcasting to handheld) wireless communications. The technology works in a similar way to digital terrestrial broadcasting.
Following an initial trial in December it will be expanded to 400 customers in the greater Dublin area who will experience broadcast TV to their mobiles over an eight-month period.
O2 has forged an alliance with transmission technology firm Arqiva to conduct the trial, which will be conducted using Nokia N92 mobile TV handsets.
“This latest innovation in the wider communications sector is set to play a key role in the future of mobile technology,” explained Danuta Gray, chief executive of O2 Ireland.
“Mobile television will greatly enhance the range of services to users and is an exciting progression towards the mobile phone becoming a more advanced, multi-faceted communications tool.
“The convergence of mobile phones and broadcast media also offers business opportunities for the organisations involved in both sectors and will no doubt lead to exciting initiatives in the future,” Gray added.
O2 demonstrated the mobile broadcasting technology at the recent Ryder Cup event.
By John Kennedy
