Mobily test-fires DVB-H broadcast of 8 satellite channels

Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) is testing its upcoming Digital Video Broadcast to Handheld (DVB-H) service. The company is trying out broadcasting eight popular satellite TV channels in Jeddah, in a joint trial with the Ministry of Culture and Information of the infant service.

Mobily said that its customers in Jeddah can now receive live feeds of Saudi TV’s Channel 1 and Sport, MBC’s 1, 2 and 3, Alarabiya news channel, CNBC Arabic and children’s favorite Spacetoon in high definition.

The company expects the project to be its next runaway hit. The trial service will not be available to subscribers of other operators. Subscribers who have mobile TV-enabled devices only need access the main menu on the device, go to Mobile TV, and select the channels they wish to see. If all else fails, 1100 is there to lend a helping hand.

Khalid Al-Kaf, Mobily’s CEO, said that DVB-H is slowly but surely permeating the international telecom sector. He said that this project typifies Mobily’s pursuit of the latest and greatest in the sector. He added that the company is keeping its promise to its customers of quality entertainment.

Al Kaf praised the ministry for cooperating in experimenting with new services, adding that the ministry’s choice of Mobily as its partner in this up-and-coming service will greatly contribute to setting the international standard for DVB-H.Put simply, through DVB-H, enabled handsets can receive digital video broadcasts just like a normal TV set, but in high definition. And just like the good old TV set, there is no need for an internet or GPRS connection.

With Mobily’s test trial, the Kingdom becomes among the first Arab countries to have the technology. The service is available on a limited scale in a number of European countries, such as Spain and Italy. The UAE already has DVB-H licensing on offer to providers.