The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona will see the first demonstration of live mobile television in S-Band using the new DVB-SH standard. Alcatel-Lucent is a major proponent of the standard. Employing spectrum previously reserved for satellite use, it could open up broadcast television to mobile devices across Europe.

Alcatel-Lucent, Eutelsat, SES Astra and Spanish company Albertis Telecom are among the companies that are joining forces to provide the demonstration in Barcelona, which will be available on handsets from Sagem.

Eutelsat Communications will provide the satellite capacity for the distribution to the DVB-SH terrestrial repeater network of various live mobile television channels including leading Spanish and international broadcasters.

In Europe, it is proposed that DVB-SH will use the S-Band frequency in a space segment owned by a joint venture between Eutelsat and SES Astra in the first quarter of 2009. It enables hybrid satellite and terrestrial distribution, potentially reusing existing cellular sites, towers and antennae.

In the US, the first DVB-SH operation will also be based on a hybrid system with an S-Band satellite due to be launched by ICO Global Communications in March.

www.alcatel-lucent.com
www.eutelsat.com
www.ses.com
www.abertistelecom.com
www.sagem.com