Harris has entered into an agreement with NTL Broadcast, a major UK broadcast transmission provider, to be the exclusive supplier of broadcast transmitters for a mobile TV trial using the Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H) standard.
The trial, mounted by NTL Broadcast and mobile operator O2, will cover 46sq mi in the Oxford area of the United Kingdom using 10 transmitting sites. At each site Harris will install its DVB-H-ready DTV660 series transmitters with power ranging from 100W to 200W.
The DTV660 series is based upon the digital television transmitters and single-frequency network products built by Harris' European operations. NTL Broadcast and O2 will test their business model and consumer mobile TV preferences beginning in June this year.
During the trial, 500 O2 customers with multimedia mobile phones will receive a line-up of 16 TV channels composed of music, sports, news, comedy, soaps, documentary, drama, cartoons and specialist channels, including interactive gaming and shopping. The trial will test consumer demand for mobile TV services, the perceived value of specific types of content, and likely viewing habits that could shape an eventual service proposition.
Information gained during the Oxford trial could hasten the adoption of new services over terrestrial broadcast and cellular networks.
For more information, visit www.broadcast.harris.com.
