The European Commission endorsed Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) as the standard for mobile TV in Europe. The action is intended to spur the development of a single market for mobile TV in Europe.
DVB-H is currently between trials and commercial launch in 16 countries. Commercial DVB-H services are already available in Italy, with further launches expected later this year notably in Finland, Austria, France, Switzerland and Spain.
After publication of the Commission decision in the EU List of Standards in the EU's Official Journal, Member States will be required to encourage the use of DVB-H.
"For Mobile TV to take off in Europe, there must first be certainty about the technology. This is why I am glad that with today's decision, taken by the Commission in close coordination with the Member States and the European Parliament, the EU endorse DVB-H as the preferred technology for terrestrial mobile broadcasting," said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for the Information Society and Media. The next steps for implementing the EU strategy on mobile broadcasting will include guidance on the authorization regimes as well as the promotion of rights management systems based, as is DVB-H, on open standards"
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- The DVB-H specification for bringing broadcast services to battery-powered handheld receivers was formally adopted as an ETSI standard in November 2004. /ul>
