The Mobile Broadcast TV Format War: making sense of multiple technologies (Technology Focus)

Publication Date	March 2007
Publisher	Datamonitor
Product Type	Brief
Pages	14
ISBN Number	not applicable
Product Code	DAT04833

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Summary

Introduction

This brief analyzes the infrastructure elements of a mobile broadcast TV solutions as well as each of the primary delivery formats (bearer technologies). Datamonitor considers it essential for players in the space to have an understanding of each of these different technologies in order to advantage from deploying a mobile broadcast TV service.

Scope

Addresses key components in a generic mobile broadcasting infrastructure with a particular focus on mobile broadcast service management.
Outlines benefits and challenges with each different bearer technology including DVB-H, MediaFLO, DAB-IP and DMB-T.
Highlightsthe growing possibility of unified systems through multi-format reception handsets.

Highlights

As the needs of mobile operators and content producers grow, coupled with the growing complexity of bearer technologies, Datamonitor considers that providers of mobile broadcast service management solutions must ensure that their systems are flexible enough to adapt to multiple formats and technical specifications.

MediaFLO provides an appealing technology with regards to technical functionality. However, DVB-H offers an open-system that is backed by a vast array of technology companies. Coupled with the ease of implementation through traditional digital terrestrial television infrastructure, this provides DVB-H with a particularly attractive solution.

The more companies that are involved in open standards, the greater the economy of scale for research and development that will ultimately facilitate the deployment of the services. Datamonitor suggests that multiple standards might prove a hindrance for mobile broadcast service providers' enthusiasm for deploying a specific solution.

Reasons to Purchase

Gain insight into key parts of the mobile broadcast infrastructure value chain and services that these components offer.
Understand different bearer technologies and the challenges and benefits with each including power consumption and spectrum capacity demands.
Comprehend the possibility and ramifications of multi-format reception through unified chipsets.

Content

- CATALYST
- SUMMARY
- METHODOLOGY
- ANALYSIS
- Effective video management is essential for mobile broadcast TV services
- Traditional broadcast communications providers expanding into the mobile broadcast TV environment
- The generic mobile broadcast TV infrastructure value chain
- The physical creation of content remains similar to most broadcast services
- Mobile broadcast service management: advantaging from scalable solutions
- Scalable and content agnostic solutions are increasingly important
- Competing bearer technologies provide different challenges and benefits for providers
- DAB derivative solutions are currently available across the globe
- Spectrum availability is already present for DAB derivative solutions in most regions
- Time to market is one of the biggest benefits for DAB derivative solutions
- Challenges for DAB derivative solutions include network infrastructure elements and receiver performance
- MediaFLO provides a potential walled garden approach for mobile broadcast TV services
- MediaFLO technologies look for UHF, VHF and L-Band spectrum capacity
- FLO offers benefits through guaranteed spectrum space and greater channel capabilities
- A closed environment might prove detrimental in the long-run
- DVB-H service provides an open solution based from traditional digital broadcasting technology
- Spectrum capacity issues remain and issue in some markets for DVB-H services
- DVB-H technology benefits from open standards and strong commercial backing
- Spectrum remains a particular challenge - particularly in US service deployment
- Growing potential for unified mobile broadcast TV systems in the future
- Open standards are the way forward for mobile broadcast TV adoption
- Promoting interoperability: Qualcomm's Universal Broadcast Model (UBM) chip
- Consumers are technology agnostic
Appendix
- Definitions
- Further reading
- Ask the analyst
List Of Figures
- Figure 1: Simplified downstream mobile broadcast TV infrastructure value chain
- Figure 2: Overview of major mobile broadcast bearer technologies
- Figure 3: Qualcomm's FLO network components
- Figure 4: Time slicing through a DVB-H system