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Communications Regulatory Authority

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Mobile television services<br />

In 2005, in the light of recent technologic and market advances AGCOM undertook<br />

a survey on mobile TV (DVB-H, Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld) aimed at<br />

assessing the need to adopt regulations within its remit with regard to:<br />

• frequency planning;<br />

• frequency allocation procedures;<br />

• access and services regulation;<br />

• protection of competition and pluralism;<br />

• offer transparency and consumer protection.<br />

Within the framework of this survey, AGCOM undertook a public consultation<br />

aimed at gathering information and documentation facts regarding the potential<br />

development of television - also interactive - services usable on mobile handsets.<br />

Survey results were published on AGCOM’s web site and highlighted a substantial<br />

interest by the market with regard to mobile TV services, both by undertakings<br />

traditionally working in the television industry, and by mobile operators, as well as, in<br />

general, by telecommunications operators. The survey also highlighted the existence of<br />

different technologies devised for the broadcasting of television programmes that can be<br />

picked up by mobile handsets.<br />

Among the leading solutions, either standardized or currently being set up within<br />

a European framework, are DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld), T-DMB<br />

(Terrestrial-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), UMTS-based MBMS (Multimedia<br />

Broadcasting Multicast Service), and hybrid terrestrial-satellite solutions, still at a<br />

research level, such as S-DMB (Satellite-Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) and<br />

DVBH+ (Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld-Satellite).<br />

The survey also highlighted the peculiarities of TV programmes receivable on<br />

mobile handsets’ small screens, both in terms of the low-resolution picture’s technical<br />

features, and in terms of format and aggregation of programme schedules composed of<br />

short-duration programmes.<br />

Another significant aspect is the high number of programmes that can be<br />

broadcast on a single radio channel, up to 30 with DVB-H technology.<br />

Following the survey results, AGCOM approved a draft regulation - “Supplement to<br />

Resolution no. 435/01/CONS. Regulation governing the roll-out phase of digital<br />

terrestrial broadcasting towards mobile handsets” - which proposes a first regulatory<br />

approach with regard to the roll-out of DVB-H mobile-TV services in television<br />

frequency bands.<br />

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