KPN launches DVB-H mobile TV service

Dutch operator KPN said this week it has launched a nationwide mobile TV service based on the European Standard, DVB-H.

Users of the KPN service, MobielTV, have access to a choice of ten channels, accessible via DVB-H-capable devices delivered by Nokia.

KPB said the channels Nederland 1, Nederland 3, RTL4, RTL24, SBS6, Jetix/Veronica, MTV Music, Discovery Channel, Xite and Nick Toons are the first to be offered, with more channels are expected to be included in the future.

Nokia Siemens Networks delivered the infrastructure.

The European Commission made the controversial decision to add the DVB-H mobile TV standard to the EU List of Standards back in March, moving the EC closer to its goal of ensuring that the technology is adopted by all operators in the region.

The Commission said the move would encourage the harmonised provision of mobile TV across the EU, but the proposal has been met with apprehension by backers of other technologies such as FLO and DMB.

The stakes riding on mobile TV and DVB-H in particular, are high for the European mobile industry. The EC forecasts that the mobile TV market could be worth up to Eur20bn by 2011, and reach some 500 million users worldwide.