Info Society Commissioner, Viviane Reding, presented the Commission view on Mobile TV at a press conference, organized in the framework of the CeBit world fair in Hanover. The Commissioner expressed her belief in the “huge” potential of the future Mobile TV market (“The 2,2  billion now could grow to over 8 billion in 2011”).  She recalled that it was last year at CeBit that she invited the industry and all stakeholders to take the initiative on making Mobile TV possible.  The direct outcome of her invitation was the creation of the European Mobile Broadcasting Council (EMBC) in summer 2006. The latter had come up recently with a report tackling three important issues: standards, spectrum, and regulatory framework. The Commissioner addressed shortly all three.

With regards to standards, Mrs. Reding welcomed the Council’s consensus on the need of one single standard. “It is a general belief that the market should identify the right standard”, she added. The Commissioner recalled that 17 Member States were already using an open standard and congratulated Italy for its Mobile TV success story.
 
In terms of spectrum, Mrs. Reding saw the possibility of meeting “the real challenge” by utilizing the digital dividend. Referring to the L-Band and the S-Band, she announced that the “the European Commission has made the first step to free some spectrum”.

“Mobile TV is a young emerging market” was the Commissioner’s comment on the third point- the regulatory framework. Therefore she did not see a need “to overregulate”. She added, however, that she considers the Olympics in 2008 as a deadline for an agreement on a common standard.

Mrs. Reding’s speech was followed by a short discussion. A journalist from Internet Kom enquired after the EU position on the variety of existing standards. Mrs. Reding said the Commission was neutral as long as one common standard was identified.
 
A Greek journalist wanted to know what measures the Commissioner would propose in case there was no agreement on the standard by the industry by 2008. In response to the question, the Commissioner announced that a Commission Communication on Mobile TV, containing proposed measures, would be published this summer. She added, however, that she “does not necessarily need” to determine the standard and that she could also mandate it in the end.

Another question coming from the audience aimed at clarifying whether by talking about standards the Commissioner meant regulating. Mrs. Reding did not exclude this possibility but said that she would like to “leave it to the market”

Mobile TV Conference

The press conference was followed by a conference on Mobile TV. Mr. Laven, (Director, Technical Department, European Broadcasting Union and Secretariat European Mobile Broadcasting Council) was given the floor to present the industry perspective, outlined in the EMBC draft recommendations report.

Before casting light on the outcomes, Mr. Laven stressed on several facts. First of all, EMBC’s main objective was to provide a road map for the development and implementation of mobile broadcasting in the EU. Secondly, the body had to take decisions entirely by consensus”. Thirdly, “the whole process was open to anybody” and no stakeholder enjoyed a privileged position. And last but not least, the work of the EMBC was divided into three streams: technology, spectrum and regulation. (To read the whole EMBC report click here).
Technology
The technological group came up with the conclusion that “a single standard for mobile broadcasting will be difficult to agree on”. In the group’s opinion, there is no “obvious winner in technological terms” among the existing wide variety of standards.

The EMBC fully recommends technological neutrality. A pragmatic approach on interoperability, identified by the market, is also recommended.

Spectrum

With regards to spectrum the EMBC concludes that “spectrum rights should be attributed through transparent process”. The spectrum group believes that the identification of spectrum is vital for the introduction of a mobile broadcasting service.

The key task for the European Commission, in EMBS’s view, is “to help Member States to achieve rapid switchover”. Whereas, the most urgent task for the National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) is to start making “frequency allocation in UHF band”. In terms of spectrum availability the report recalls that ITU GE-06 has the flexibility to allow mobile broadcasting service and calls for minimum constraints in the MF Band.

As for harmonization, EMBC members believe it to be “good idea in principle” but also warn that “benefits should be balanced against potential costs (delays in implementation for example)”

The EMBC report states that any revision on mobile broadcasting should take into account the rights of the existing services.

Regulatory framework

The EMBC’s view on regulation is that “there is no need for new regulation”. The existing regulation already covers mobile-broadcasting.

The EMBC identifies two challenges: copyright clearance across international borders as well as collective rights management. The regulatory group believes that the European Commission should help achieve the latter.

Speech of Mrs. Viviane Reding

Mrs. Viviane Reding took the floor right after Mr. Laven. She recalled her main points and expressed disappointment form the “too consensual” recommendations of the EMBC. The Commissioner was also dissatisfied with the “too slow” progress on spectrum and the lack of decision on a common standard. In her speech, she revealed her standard preference. “I am prepared to give strong support to European standardized solutions, such as DVB-H”, she said (to access the full speech click (here).