Ofcom holds key to satellite mobileTV system

摘要

Ofcom has found itself at the centre of an international wrangle over the frequencies to be used by Europe's new DVB-SH system, designed to provide mobile television to handheld devices via satellite and terrestrial broadcasts. A decision by the UK communications regulator, expected soon, could scupper a project by Europe's two biggest satellite operators or it could deal a blow to rival plans by US satellite operator ICO Global Communications. The frequencies, located at 2GHz in the so-called "S-Band", are the subject of a ￡90 million joint-venture by satellite operators Eutelsat and SES Astra. The two companies, normally fierce rivals, last year agreed to support DVB-SH through dedicated capacity on the new Eutelsat W2A platform (NMM November 3, 2006). In March, the European Commission launched a consultation to define how services using these frequencies should be selected and authorised for pan-European deployment.