Analysys (
News -
Alert) Mason, advisers on telecoms, IT and media today published a new report saying that although several mobile network operators (MNOs) are planning to use a combination of 3G
and dedicated mobile broadcasting networks to deliver mobile TV and video services, they must not overlook emerging alternatives.
According to “Critical Ingredients of Mobile TV,” a large number of MNOs already are providing TV and video services over their 3G networks. Because the MNOs are concerned over capacity and quality of service
, they are considering to combine 3G networks with dedicated mobile broadcasting networks, such as DVB-H and MediaFLO.
According to Analysys Mason, these are not the only ways through which the operators can deliver mobile TV content. The operators can deliver the content through indoor wireless systems and “sideloading,” where content is transferred from a PC or other device to memory in a mobile handset. The alternative delivery mechanisms provide several benefits, according to the report.
Dr Alastair Brydon, an Analysys Mason associate and co-author of the report, said that iPhone (
News -
Alert) users can already watch a range of TV content without requiring 3G or mobile broadcasting capability, by using sideloading and WLAN
streaming.
The report indicates that trials of DVB-H services have shown significant indoor usage of mobile TV services. Between 36 and 50 percent of participants use these services mainly at home. Femtocells, or other indoor systems, can successfully carry this traffic, according to the report. In fact, according to the report, these systems have the potential to conduct this with higher quality than is achievable with outdoor 3G and broadcasting networks.
Another way of delivering content is sideloading, which is not time critical, such as pre-recorded TV programs – soap operas, dramas, situation comedies, and documentaries. In contrast to other mobile TV distribution methods, sideloading has the ability to provide guaranteed reliability in any location, with very high quality.
The report also shows that MNOs that are not able to deploy broadcasting networks can deliver a compelling proposition without filling up the capacity of their 3G networks. According to Analysys Mason, if sideloading is used to deliver 75 percent of mobile TV content and 60 percent of streamed content was consumed indoors, then 3G networks will have to carry just 10 percent of total mobile TV traffic.
Anuradha Shukla is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anuradha’s articles, please visit her columnist page.
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