Germany to launch TDMB service in May
[Korea Herald 2006-03-21 10:02]
Germany is set to launch mobile television service based on Korea`s terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting technology in eight major cities in May, the Korean government said yesterday.
The Ministry of Information and Communication announced that Germany`s third-largest mobile carrier Debitel AG will operate the service, enabling some subscribers in the service areas such as Munich and Stuttgart to watch the World Cup matches in June while on the move.
The mobile broadcasting service will be expanded into four other big cities in 2006, and the nationwide broadcast is scheduled to start next year.
Currently, the TDMB-based mobile broadcast service is being test-run in Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Stuttgart.
Terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting, co-developed by Korea`s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute and Samsung Electronics Co., allows users to enjoy real time TV programs through mobile gadgets while on the move.
The mobile technology broadcasts television programs through conventional terrestrial transmitters, thus charging no extra subscription fees.
The world`s third-largest mobile phone maker Samsung Electronics plans to ship mobile TV phones to Debitel in May, and the rival maker LG Electronics Inc. will also begin to supply its gadgets in summer.
(kkt@heraldm.com) By Ko Kyoung-tae
