Alcatel-Lucent and ETHER demo DVB-SH over UHF in Ukraine

PARIS and KIEV — Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) and Ukrainian Television and Radio Company ETHER announced they have successfully completed field tests that demonstrated for the first time ever in a live network the viability of the DVB-SH format (Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite services on Handhelds) using the UHF band – a band typically used for residential television broadcasting and mobile broadcasting DVB-H. This test showed an increase of coverage by DVB-SH through the UHF band (compared with legacy DVB-H networks and technologies). The test results are presented today on Alcatel-Lucent’s booth at the “Sviaz-Expocomm-2010” tradeshow in Moscow.

ETHER is Ukrainian telecommunication operator with a license for digital broadcasting in the DVB-H standard. The scope of this live trial included testing of both the coverage and bandwidth/viability of DVB-SH over UHF and leveraged multimedia broadcast technologyand equipment (modulators and mobile end-user terminals) from Alcatel-Lucent. It also included Alcatel-Lucent system integration and network optimization consulting services which enabled operator ETHER to re-use to the maximum extent possible their existing third party equipment.

The DVB-SH standard, part of the DVB family and adopted by ETSI since 2008, is an evolution of DVB-T and DVB-H. As a hybrid system DVB-SH enables direct reception of multimedia broadcast content both via terrestrial repeaters and also to complement distribution via satellite. It also enables hybrid terrestrial broadcasting to both mobile and fixed TV services in the same multiplex. DVB-SH is increasingly seen as the technology of choice for mass broadcasting of television to a broad number of user devices simultaneously.

“Being an innovative company, ETHER continues to explore new, cutting-edge technology for consumerapplications, “said Viktor Galich, CTO ETHER. “That is why we decided to perform analysis of this new technical approachwith Alcatel-Lucent and we are glad to be the first company in the industry, which has tested possibilities of DVB-SH over the UHF band.”

“Alcatel-Lucent has been occupying leading positions in DVB-SH for a long time already” said Herbert Mittermayr, multimedia broadcast technologies manager, Alcatel-Lucent. “Providing world class technology as well as our multimedia integration services to companies like ETHER, we continue in our mission to partner with our customers by delivering them targeted consulting and equipment that they need to successfully validate and launch their multimedia services.”