Amid objections, Euro-commission closes in on DVB-H standard

The European Commission has taken another major step toward formally adopting DVB-H as a European-wide standard for mobile television services. The commission intends to finalize the adoption by February.
The commission initially presented a strategy to accelerate the rollout of services in July, but today’s move firms up that timetable with a target date of 2008 for a region-wide deployment.
The endorsement is, however, getting flak from three of the European Union’s most powerful member states: Germany, Britain and the Netherlands. Britain formally voiced its opposition, calling for the listing of all current competing standards, not just DVB-H.
The countries would need a majority of two thirds of the EU’s 27 states to block the move, which they have not yet been able to gather.
If DVB-H is added to the official list of standards, which all EU member states have to support and encourage, the technology will become the de facto standard for mobile television throughout the region.
“European mobile TV is a step closer to success following today’s endorsement by the Council of the Commission’s strategy for creating economies of scale in this important sector,” Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for the Information Society and Media, said in a statement. “I welcome the support received today for the commission’s mobile TV strategy and, by a strong majority of member states, also for DVB-H. At the same time, I call also on the minority of governments who are still reluctant, partly for internal reasons, to endorse DVB-H as European standard to join the majority quickly. The more member states participate actively, the better Europe will be in achieving the required critical mass to become a world leader in mobile TV.”
Qualcomm Inc., which developed the competing MediaFLO standard, reiterated that DVB-H would be listed as a “non-mandatory standard in the official list of standards of the EU.”
Qualcomm already has a solid business growing in the United States with its MediaFLO USA Inc. subsidiary. It has launched service with Verizon Wireless and plans to rollout services with AT&T Mobility in early 2008. Meanwhile, it continues to push for more contracts abroad.
“There’s no technology mandate,” Bill Davidson, senior VP of global marketing and investor relations for Qualcomm, said in an interview following the announcement.
“So any other standard is welcome to come in and compete,” he said.
“At the end of the day, what benefits consumers . is to have the best technology in the market,” Davidson said. “If something better comes along, there’s nothing keeping them from coming in and competing, which is great for the consumer.”
Davidson added that while, of course, Qualcomm would love to see MediaFLO rule the day as the most widely adopted mobile TV standard, its business model is squarely focused on the overall success of mobile television, regardless of the standard being used. After all, more mobile TV subscribers means more handsets equipped with specialized chipsets designed to deliver those services.
The European Commission’s decision “does not equate to DVB-H becoming the de facto standard in Europe for mobile TV nor has the door been closed on additional mobile TV standards being added to the official list of EU standards. The official Council communication also ‘acknowledges the importance of innovation, technology neutrality and a market-led approach for the successful, long-term deployment of Mobile TV broadcasting services,’ which continues to be Qualcomm’s position,” Qualcomm wrote in a statement.
Reding went on to add that Europe has a great opportunity to highlight mobile TV during the European Football Championship in 2008.
“Watching mobile television should become for every European as easy, attractive and affordable as making a phone call. We the commission, together with the industry, will make our contribution to the successful take-up of mobile TV in Europe and take all necessary action needed to boost this vitally important industry for Europe.”
Qualcomm Inc. backs MediaFLO, a rival to the DVB-H standard. The company has been trying to garner interest in MediaFLO in Europe. The company was not immediately available to comment on the European commission’s decision.