New Developments

3D Mobile TV may Debut Faster Than Expected!

June 22,2010

3D has been a craze, and mobile devices seem to be ideally suited for it. This is owing to the ease with which a 3D display can be implemented on a mobile device as well as inclination to shoot 3D videos using mobiles with dual cameras.

While the first Mobile TV channel in Japan ( 1-seg broadcasting) has been on air some time now, the focus is now shifting on local content as well ( movies such as Avatar) which can be downloaded and played in 3D. ( Not to mention Games and animation content which is spectacular in 3D). Adult content also seems to find its way, anyway.

So what should you expect in the next few months when 3D makes a mad rush?

3D is essentially very simple. All that you need is two pictures meant for left and right eyes to be delivered separately. If a film is shot in 3D ( such as Avatar) this is relatively easy, as it already has images for left and right eyes. Else it can be repurposed.

- 3D on mobile devices will be stereoscopic-meaning that you will not need to wear glasses of any kind to view 3D video. This is owing to the screens which will provide stereoscopic view to the two eyes. As the viewing angle for a mobile device is straight , this is relatively easy. There are many cell-phones now available with 3D stereoscopic displays. An example is the Nokia 810 which is a 3D phone.

-Can you make ordinary phones such as an i-phone show stereoscopic images? No. Stereoscopic phones need optics in the screen to deliver two separate images ( Left and Right).However there will be software available which will allow you to see 3D using glasses, if someone is hell bent for such use.

-Mobile with dual cameras are on the way. So when you shoot video using the mobile, it will record both the views and the video can be viewed back in 3D.

- Video for 3D is carried either as stereoscopic ( L,R) or 2D with depth information. In case of broadcast systems, the 3D video information is combined in a 3D media processor to generate a combined video stream with appropriate time reference information.

-Transmission of TV channel in 3D has already begun in Japan. One channel is being broadcast using 1seg broadcasting, which is the Japanese standard for Mobile TV. ( ISDB-T). There are a range of mobile phones which can be used to view such content. Examples are Woo Hoo1 by KDDI/Hitachi and SCH-W960 by Samsung ( This is a DMB phone for use in S. Korea).

ATSC Approves Mobile Handheld Standard:The  Action should begin now!

Oct 19,2009

The formal approval of the ATSC M/H as the mobile DTV standard A/153 was entirely expected after it was approved as a candidate standard in April 2009 and subsequent field trials. However the issue is how fast the action can pick up now. Mobile TV using FLO technology is now strongly rolling out through mobile industry leaders AT&T ( AT&T Mobile TV) and Verizon( VCAST). FLO had been earlier restricted to only select markets due to the lack of availability of a UHF channel. This hurdle has now been removed. The FLO service is at present operating using just one or two channels ( UHF channels 54/55) across the United states, in the markets where it is available. By all accounts it is a very successful service. It is designed for mobile devices and is not an adaptation of a large screen technology to “also” serve mobile devices. It provides nearly 20 video channels in a 6 MHz spectrum slot, which is way beyond its competitors.

In contrast, by all logic ATSC M/H has the support of TV broadcasters and is likely to have much larger resources at its disposal in terms of ATSC spectrum which is available with TV stations. The variety of TV channels available will also be larger with nearly 800 stations being a part of the open mobile video coalition (OMVC).

However the operators of ATSC M/H services will still need the support of mobile operators for successfully launching the services. This is where the scene gets interesting.

While AT&T and Verizon, with more than 50 % of mobile users amongst them are  for the moment committed to MediFLO, riding on and providing services on its infrastructure, FLO TV is having a robust growth. This leaves T-Mobile and Sprint as the other possible major mobile carriers.

 But looking at the broader market, MediaFLO it is also considering entering distribution on its own. AT&T and Verizon, also have their 3G based mobile TV services, CV and V CAST which provide live streaming mobile TV channels on the 3G networks which have been upgraded to HSPA. These carriers therefore have stakes in boosting their own mobile Video services. One must not forget that their associated businesses of IPTV ( Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse TV) are doing exceedingly well with over 5 million customers and high ARPUs and they have every  reason to use their mobile customer bases which are their assets to leverage to provide 3G based mobile TV to retain the ARPUs at home. An external TV service, therefore is attractive to them only if they get a good revenue share.

The market will therefore be determined by how fast ATSC M/H broadcasters can get deals in place with mobile carriers, to get the chips in the handsets and to get such handsets approved. Quite a list. Many of the channels will be free to air in the initial period, which makes it even more challenging, as there are no revenues to share. But there is no doubt that eventually all the major carriers will come in once the broadcasters have found ways to compensate them.

This of course opens up the market for multiple possibilities. There is little doubt that the broadcasters organized under the OMVC will need the support of mobile operators, some of which have conflicting interests, at least for the moment. But by early 2010, the services should begin to have greater visibility.

One would normally think that free to air mobile TV channels such as in T-DMB networks of Korea should be able to penetrate to a large number of handsets and users. But in Korea, this has required considerable support and push from the government. The situation is similar in Japan where the ISDB-T One segment mobile TV phones which can receive the free to air exceed 60 million. Upto 80% of the new phones sold come with mobile TV tuners built in. The US markets are somewhat different; however, as here the carriers have much greater control on the handsets which can be used in the networks. Perhaps FCC will step in at some point to ensure that handsets with DTV receiver chips do not face any hurdles. In China, the number of cities where CMMB services were available jumped to over 190 and every new 3G handset (TD-SCDMA) to be approved needs to have a CMMB tuner. This alone has boosted the number of users to over 20 million making China the fastest growing market for mobile TV in the world over the last one year. Obviously we cannot expect the same here but then what can we expect?

In any event, the developments in the next two months are like to be fast paced and may lead to some tie ups which may surprise even the seasoned industry observers.

http://www.tv2mtv.com

FLO TV Expansion to Additional Markets Gathers  Pace

Oct 2009

One of the biggest changes to the Mobile TV markets in the United States has been set off with FLO TV, which is based on a terretrial transmission of mobile TV using the MediaFLO technology, going live n new markets progressively after the spectrum became available in June 2009.

FLO TV is projected to cover a potential market of 200 million viewers by Dec 2009, presenting a tremendous challange to ATSC based mobile TV, also set to launch in 2010. In addition to Mobile phones available via Verizon and AT&T, FLO TV is also available using standalone receivers. It will also be available using car receivers, covering all market segments.

ATSC approves Mobile/ Handheld Standard

Nov 26,2008

The Advanced Television Systems Committee ( ATSC) today approved the draft standards for Mobile/ Handheld television. The new candidate standard is based on the use of Vestigial Sideband Modulation( VSB) and is backward compatible with existing recievers. It employs MPEG4 encoded video channels together with HE-AAC coded audio.

The approval of new Mobile/ Handheld standards is the most important step since the approval of ATSC standards themselves, now a part of the Digitalization of TV in USA and other countries. The ATSC-M/H standards makes it possible to make minor augmentations of the broadcast equipment to include channels for Mobile TV within the same bandwidth. There is no need for additional spectrum or the use of new transmitter network, making the ATSC- M/H standards as “ ready for adopt across the country” as ATSC transmitters replace older analog equipment.

The new standard also specifies data broadcasting modalities for Internet and interactive services to be enabled. There has always been a provision in the ATSC standards for data broadcasting but it had never taken off owing to the need for defining the modalities for use of data.

The new ATSC standards have been supported by Open Mobile Video coalition ( OMVC) which has been interested in a common and inexpensive augmentation of the ATSC standard for Mobile TV. OMVC has also been involved in the trials of the new standard.

The new candidate standard is specified in eight parts, as per the norms of candidate standards in ATSC:

• Part 1 – Mobile/Handheld Digital Television System

• Part 2 – RF/Transmission System Characteristics

• Part 3 – Service Multiplex and Transport Subsystem Characteristics

• Part 4 – Announcement

• Part 5 – Presentation Framework

• Part 6 – Service Protection

• Part 7 – Video System Characteristics

• Part 8 – Audio System Characteristics

The announcement of the standards is expected to pave the way for new networks going on line and new mobile devices with ATSC M/H receivers becoming widely available. The ATSC M/H is expected to mount  a serious challenge to MediaFLO and 3G based networks which provide Mobile TV today in the next three years. Broadcasters can now simulcast their channels to fixed as well as Mobile Tv sets without having to worry about the receivers.

In the meantime, in anticipation of the standards, vendors have been already moving ahead with receivers for ATSC M/H.

Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) commences tests on the new ATSC Mobile – Handheld Standard

Nov 10,2008

The OMVC, which is a body of over 800  major terrestrial TV stations  in the United States, has commenced trials on the performance of the ATSC Mobile/ Handheld add on units. It may be recalled that the OMVC proposes to enable all existing ATSC digital TV transmitting TV stations to also transmit to mobiles.  This is by adding on the stream for Mobile TV in the ATSC multiplex with appropriate error correction attributes.

This upgrade promises to enable a relatively low cost upgrade to any ATSC station with projected costs being below $100,000 per station. This is an order of magnitude lower than a comparative upgrade using a new technology which operates independent of the broadcast network.

The trials being carried out in Chicago (Sears Towers) and Fort Lupton, Colorado. The initial results have validated the performance. The conclusion of tests will pave the way for adoption of standards and universal deployment in the year to come. This will also enable the development of many new mobile devices with capabilities to showcase broadcast channels.

IBC 2008 to showcase IPTV over WiMAX

Sept 04, 2008

Europe’s biggest broadcasting showcase, IBC2008 ( 11-16 Sept 2008, RAI, Amsterdam) is set to showcase the pioneering use of the WiMAX technology to carry IPTV.  With dozens of commercial networks having been deployed and new WiMAX enabled devices emerging there is great interest in the Mobile WiMAX technology amongst operators to deliver new convergence services.

While the concept itself has been envisaged as early as 2006 based on the QoS features which WiMAX provides in a wiles environment, the time has finally come for the commercial products as more and more new networks roll out.

Mobile TV including TDtv using MBMS, MXtv on WiMAX and 3G long term evolution LTE will be the technologies which feature at the IBC.

Visitors to the exhibition can expect to see a range of solutions which go beyond technology itself. PACE for example would be demonstrating  a WiMAX based content delivery solution which merges into a home network to provide a seamless experience to the users. This implies the integration of an 802.16 delivery with 802.11n distribution.

The applications will include provision of wireless triple-play and entertainment networks with multiple simultaneous HD video streams and extended coverage.

Mobile WiMAX: Updates from Broadcast Asia 2008

( June 17-20, Singapore)

Broadcast Asia 2008 Stuns with WiMAX Applications: IPTV, Gaming and Internet Access

The Broadcast Asia 2008 and CommunicAsia 2008 opened at the Singapore Expo Centre. This show is one of the biggest ever with exhibits spread across 9 Halls. The spotlight in both the exhibitions as well as Interactive DME is now focused greatly on the IPTV, broadcast applications and triple play. These new modes of transmission are set to transform the Linear TV into a much more interactive viewing phenomena with active user involvement. Almost all the major WiMAX companies were present exhibiting their products, both the CPEs as well as the base stations and transmission equipment, ASN gateways and Antennas. With the WiMAX Forum having recently completed certification of many devices, these were featured with great Zest.

Broadcasting with WiMAX

The thunder was however stolen by the WiMAX applications, which ranged from WiMAX being used for streaming IPTV, mobile gaming and broadband internet Access.
The performance of video streaming on WiMAX ( Including HD and Sports content ) was stunning in its quality to say the least.Flyvo™ was for example demonstrating IPTV streaming using WiMAX and the display on a full resolution screen was breathtaking.

See a video of the demo  here!

 Gaming with Mobile WiMAX at Broadcast Asia 2008

Flyvo known well for its first ever gaming device using WiMAX had demonstrated both the POSDATA 100 gaming device as well as the service environment using mobile WiMAX. The demonstration was useful in demonstrating the new ecosystem of mobile devices which mobile WiMAX is now creating, which is not limited to wireless access alone.

See the Mobile gaming device here!

Internet Access and User devices
Very high speed Internet access and Video on demand were also on display along with a host of user devices and plug-ins for mobile WiMAX reception.

WiMAX Radio

Chapter 17 of the book describes how WiMAX can be used by operators to plan and operate Radio services, which need not have any other terrestrial transmissions. It is interesting to read the experience of Honolulu’s Radio Programmer Brock Whaley’s blog  published in the Radio and Internet Newsletter.

 (I heard the future in may Car).

Mobile WiMAX: Updates from NAB 2008
NAB has not been a fora where wireless or WiMAX technologies take centre stage. This privilege is normally associated with events such as the WiMAX Forum World Congress, CTIA wireless or CES. Of late, with the broadcasting moving to the digital domain and the convergence technologies such as IPTV being the theme ( i.e. at NAB 2008) and mobile TV attracting extraordinary interest, operators attention has also been attracted to the new technologies. In the NAB, keynote speakers have also emphasized on the increasing importance of delivering a multimedia portal rather than just a mobile TV transmission to mobile devices. This has led to considerable attention being focused on the mobile WiMAX technologies in being able to deliver the new “ 4th Generation broadcasting”.
WiMAX broadcasting had moved into the domain of possible new technologies for new generation broadcasting after the demonstration of WiMAX Tv by MobiTV in NAB 2007, which also saw Nortel demonstrating its Mobile WiMAX service with TV streaming capabilities. With the mobile WiMAX wave 2 profiles just having been defined by the WiMAX forum at that time and no certified wave 2 devices being available at that time, that is as far as they could go at NAB 2007.
Considerable water has flown under the bridge since NAB 2007 and the NAB 2008 did not disappoint the viewers except for the delay of the expansion of the XOHM network beyond the initial three cities of Chicago, Baltimore and Washington.
Firstly the Mobile WiMAX is the only wireless technology using which Mobile TV can be delivered in the broadcast mode. This is owing to the multicast and broadcast (MBS) feature of the mobile WiMAX which can enable transmission to tens of thousands of mobile devices without the usual limitations of unicast connections. Wave 2 also supports MIMO and advanced antenna systems which are necessary to provide connectivity to mobile and handheld antennas subject to multipath propagation and low antenna gains. Nextwave® has come out with a WiMAX TV product based on multicasting (called MxTV), which was unveiled just prior to the NAB 2008( at CTIA wireless). At the NAB, UDcast unveiled its product for the same application i.e. WiMAX TV. The demonstrations included the complete ecosystem including the chipsets which will be used in receivers for such an application. Nextwave for example demonstrated its Wave 2 compliantNW2000 series WiMAX subscriber device System-on-a-Chip (SoC). Receiver devices based on this chipset should be available by Mid 2008.
Secondly a number of other Mobile WiMAX compatible devices have been unveiled earlier this year. This includes the Nokia N810 internet tablet, Samsung UMPCs, POSDATA gaming devices and UMPC and Samsung handsets. Over 100 types of CPEs and attachments such as PC cards, USB modems etc are now available which can enable a range of devices for mobile WiMAX. WiMAX laptops have been announced by other vendors as well, such as Acer(Acer Aspire 5920).
Third, the Wave 2 certification of devices by the WiMAX forum has commenced in earnest and at least 8 devices, having been certified were available at the time of the NAB 2008. These included wave 2 base stations as well as receiving devices. While the present certifications have been in the 2.3 GHz band, middle of 2008 should also see a range of devices in the 2.5 GHz band as well.
Fourth, services such as Internet radio have found increasing user acceptance and WiMAX is seen as one of the most effective ways to deliver continuously streaming internet radios to a range of mobile devices. IPTV and mobile TV ( such as ATSC- MPH based on IP data casting) are all based on IP based delivery of multimedia content and WiMAX is seen as the most effective means to deliver these as user portals with embedded news, mobile TV and RSS feeds as compared to terrestrial broadcast media.
Fifth news continued to flow in from many countries of successful commercial launches of mobile WiMAX networks as well as major investments. This included the Wateen Telecom, $ 500 million investment by Tata communications in India and $ 500 million by Intel in Taiwan. This is in addition to investments in Brazil, Malaysia and other countries.
Will WiMAX broadcasting target only mobile handsets for mobile TV where a number of technologies are already jostling for space? Far from it, as NAB has unveiled, it is likely to target the full range of mobile devices from music players and gaming devices to location based products, geographic information systems and multimode WiMAX/ WiFi and mobile devices.
Of great interest at the NAB 2008 were the keynotes and Super sessions, one of the notable ones being from Enrique Rodriguez from Microsoft’s connected TV division whose thrust of delivery was to convey how the broadcast devices ( such as TV) are today isolated from the connected world, such as web portals and social networking which form the core of user interest. The new generation technologies, especially for mobile devices will be of the “connected TV types” involving internet and TV. Mobile WiMAX is one of the most powerful medium to deliver such products.

Mobile TV: Summing Up NAB 2008
NAB 2008, the largest broadcast event of the year did not disappoint this year with new products and technologies outlining the pace of the industry over the next two to three years. With the largest number of international attendees on record of about 30,000 and total attendance of over 140,000 the NAB is now about a complete showcase of the broadcast industry.
This year was very special as this was the last NAB before the complete digitalization sets in the industry by Feb. 2009. With the theme of the NAB 2008 being IPTV and streaming media technologies, the focus was on convergence products rather than those relating to the just terrestrial broadcasting. These included the Mobile TV, HD Radio and of course IPTV.
In the area of Mobile TV, all eyes were on the open mobile video coalition (OMVC), an association of over 800 broadcasters which was expected to finalize the new standard for mobile TV which could be used with the ATSC transmissions. The NAB last year ( NAB 2007) had already given a peek into possible new technologies such as ATSC- MPH ( mobile pedestrian handheld), ATSC A-VSB etc. which can be used with relatively inexpensive additions to the existing ATSC broadcasting stations. However the OMVC stopped short of declaring the new standard for Mobile TV. It has announced its intention of selecting one out of three technologies which will be uses by their members to transmit mobile TV along with the ATSC transmissions. The three technologies which will be finally evaluated include the ATSC-MPH ( Mobile Pedestrian Handheld) promoted by LG and Harris, A-VSB by Samsung and ATSC Mobile TV technology by Thomson and Micronas. The clear declaration of intent by the association of over 800 broadcasters in USA under the OMVC forum heralds a bright future for mobile TV. The stations will defacto transmit local content for mobile TV in addition to regular DTV ( ATSC) transmissions. This is expected to provide a uniform standard for the technology in USA and greatly increase penetration as well as subscriber base.

With Verizon already planning Mobile TV services using MediaFLO technology and AT&T expected to do so by May 2008, it is likely that almost all mobiles will progressively support reception of Mobile TV. 3G based Mobile TV services are also available ( e.g. Sprint TV, MobiTV & others). Content differentiation will be the key factor in driving each of these services.
However the fact that OMVC has not declared any one technology as the final one this year did not stop the product vendors from displaying a complete ecosystem of products around the new mobile TV technologies. Harris and LG electronics, which are supporting the MPH technologies had set up a mobile TV broadcast through the KVCW-DT broadcasting station. The technology demonstrated is based on IP datacasting and is supported by Udcast and Triveni digital. At the same time Samsung was demonstrating its A-VSB powered mobile broadcast TV. The A_VSB technology has the advantage that it does not need additional spectrum for mobile TV transmissions. The existing ATSC spectrum can be used to add-on the mobile TV services. The A-VSB initiative is supported by Samsung Electronics, MobiTV, Nokia Siemens Networks, Rohde & Schwarz and SES AMERICOM.
As expected the area of WiMAX TV, which is IPTV streamed over WiMAX networks attracted considerable attention as a future technology. UDcast, a company known for its IPTV, Mobile Tv products based on DVB-H and DVB-SH technologies has now unveiled its WiMAX TV product.
Earlier in March 2008, Nextwave had unveiled its WiMAX TV Platform called MXtv. Nextwave platform is based on the use of the multicast and broadcast feature of mobile WiMAX and can handle different types of multimedia content including video in QVGA or CIF resolution and can support 45 multicast channels in 10 MHz of WiMAX bandwidth.
With the imminent launch of XOHM and other mobile WiMAX services in US and other parts of the world, delivery of TV to mobiles using multicast and broadcast service(MBS) becomes an attractive proposition. WiMAX TV, which is based on multicasting of streaming mobile TV content has many potential advantages as it is independent of carriers which deliver the service, country and can be received over any WiMAX enabled handset, WiMAX notebook or other devices.
WiMAX uses the relatively inexpensive wireless network for delivery of multimedia content ( Video, music or pictures) and can provide speeds which are an order of magnitude higher as compared to cellular or 3G networks. Due to its high spectral efficiency coupled with quality of service features the content can be delivered in a multicast manner as compared to generating individual streams for each user. WiMAX is an open technology and effectively brings the entire internet in the mobile domain.
MobiTV™, the largest provider of Mobile TV services in the Americas today with over 4 million subscribers came in strong outlining its plan to introduce the open mobile alliance (OMA) Rich Media Environment. No doubt with most of the DTV stations transmitting content repurposed for mobiles via their ATSC transmitters, content aggregators such as MobiTV would stand to gain by content specially suited for mobiles and to increase the gaming and rich media environment.
The adaption of OMA-BCAST platform with the inclusion of new air interfaces based on ATSC A-VSB or MPH seem to be the way the industry is set to grow in the current year.

UDcast® Unveils WiMAX TV at NAB 2008

With its central theme of IPTV the NAB 2008 did not disappoint the visitors with new technologies on display. UDcast, a company known for its IPTV, Mobile Tv products based on DVB-H and DVB-SH technologies has now unveiled its WiMAX TV product.
Earlier in March 2008, Nextwave had unveiled its WiMAX TV Platform called MXtv. Nextwave platform is based on the use of the multicast and broadcast feature of mobile WiMAX and can handle different types of multimedia content including video in QVGA or CIF resolution and can support 45 multicast channels in 10 MHz of WiMAX bandwidth.
With the imminent launch of XOHM and other mobile WiMAX services in US and other parts of the world, delivery of TV to mobiles using multicast and broadcast service(MBS) becomes an attractive proposition. WiMAX TV, which is based on multicasting of streaming mobile TV content has many potential advantages as it is independent of carriers which deliver the service, country and can be received over any WiMAX enabled handset, WiMAX notebook or other devices.
WiMAX uses the relatively inexpensive wireless network for delivery of multimedia content ( Video, music or pictures) and can provide speeds which are an order of magnitude higher as compared to cellular or 3G networks. Due to its high spectral efficiency coupled with quality of service features the content can be delivered in a multicast manner as compared to generating individual streams for each user. WiMAX is an open technology and effectively brings the entire internet in the mobile domain.

Cable MSOs to invest in Sprint-Clearwire WiMAX Venture?
As per industry news, Major MSOs such as Time Warner and Comcast are in talks with Sprint and Clearwire to invest upto 1.5 Billion. There are other MSOs as well which are looking at investing and joining the bandwagon.The coming in of Cable MSOs in a WiMAX venture was only to be expected and has been in the air for some time now. The winning in the 700 MHz auction of the telecom majors such as Verizon and AT&T has also set the cat amongst the pigeons as to how these companies will leverage this very valuable broadcast spectrum.
Will it be using technologies such as WiMAX ( the profiles are yet to be developed for 700 MHz) or will they use it with mobile 3G technologies and FLO? Or other ways of using the bands with open access and internet? These questions will be answered very soon.
In the meantime for those who have ben left out in auctions, it is time to focus on new strategies. What can be more innovative than a relook at the Sprint and Clearwire WiMAX networks which have been in making for a while now? WiMAX networks do have clear advantages in providing QoS based connectivity for streaming applications as well as multicast channels. The MSOs need this sorely for VoD content as well as for enabling triple play services. They can also target a host of mobile devices which are Wimax enabled for video and multimedia applications.
With new Systems on Chip(SoC) with ultra low power consumption and conformance with Wireless ( 802.11n) as well as mobile WiMAX wave 2 certification profiles making a strong surge, the mobile WiMAX scene is set to be a witness to major changes. Many new applications and devices will get powered and the broadcast sector is set to be one of the largest gainers in this regard.

 Nextwave announces Mobile TV Platform based on Mobile WiMAX

March 10,2008

Nextwave® has announced a mobile TV platform based on the use of mobile WiMAX technology. The Mobile WiMAX technology platform is based on Multicast and Broadcast (MBS) feature of the Mobile WiMAX technology. The multicast service in mobile Wimax uses macro-diversity features to ensure that all mobiles are able to receive the multicast transmissions. Unlike a unicast transmission of mobile TV which needs capacity for every mobile using the service, a multicast service can be scaled up to thousands of users in the same spectrum. ( See chapter 16- Mobile Broadcasting Using WiMAX- a technology overview).When dedicated for multicast upto 45 TV channels can be supported in a 10 MHz bandwidth carrier.
Developers of Mobile WiMAX technology and equipment such as Huawei and Alcatel Lucent have already committed to use the Nextwave® technology in their mobile WiMAX products based on IEEE802.16e-2005.

 Telecom Companies Grab Virtually all of US spectrum Auctions in 700 MHz Band

23 March 2008
Telecom companies have grabbed almost all the licenses auction in the 700 MHz band for a total of $9.63 Billion. The companies include Verizon, AT&T,Qualcomm and Frontier Wireless.
Does it mean that these comanies will get into broadcasting or turn the spectrum over for WiMAX? Mobile TV, in any event is one of the applications set to gain from this result.It will be an interesting Watch.

WiMAX is the key to next generation Internet - Intel CEO
CES, Las Vegas, Jan 2008

"We’re now in the midst of the largest opportunity to redefine consumer electronics and entertainment since the introduction of the television” - Paul Otellini

Intel, one of the key supporters of the WiMAX technology has outlined its plans for launch of new devices in 2008 which will be based on the use of WiMAX technology.These devices are set to go beyond Notebooks and PDAs and will be based on its ultra low power chipsets platforms "Menlow".
Availability of new devices and "plugins" is expected to be the driver of the new generation "internet on the go" characterized by mobile Web 2.0 applications and video rich interactive connectivity.

 WiMAX Forum Announces Certification Roadmap for 700 MHz Band

Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Feb 2008

The WiMAX forum has now announced support for Certification of WiMAX devices in the 700 MHz band. The Forum announced a roadmap for this at the Mobile World Congress 2008.

The introduction of digital TV and consequent vacation of the 700 MHz band from analog carriers ( “Digital Dividend”) has generated high interest amongst operators including broadcasters for use of the 700 MHz band for WiMAX. The US auctions of the 700 MHz band, which commenced in Jan 2008 had garnered over $ 18 Billion of bids by end of Jan 2008, signifying the high interest in this band.

Lower bands are better suited for use in non-line of sight conditions as well as for mobility than the higher frequency bands (See Chapter 11 of the book “Mobile Broadcasting with WiMAX”). The cell sizes can also be larger making it better suited as an overlay in semi-urban and rural areas. This coupled with the WRC-2007 adopting the OFDMA-TDD technology ( used in Mobile WiMAX) as one of the approved air interfaces under the IMT2000, is set to make the 700 MHz band on of the prime bands for mobile WiMAX and new applications including interactive broadcasting and broadband.

 WiMAX Forum Congress Asia 2008 and Exhibition, 9-10 April 2008, Singapore to Showcase Disruptive Potential of WiMAX

The WiMAX Forum Congress and Exhibition, a much sought after event by the WiMAX industry and users is set to be held at Singapore in April 2008. The excitement in the WiMAX camp is increasing as the launch of XOHM in United States will showcase the differentiating features of the mobile WiMAX technology. Not surprisingly the Forum also features WiMAX Vs. LTE and UMB debate as well as winning strategies for next generation technology. The fact that the disruptive technology of WiMAX is now coming to fruitation is in fact featuring as one of the session topics. The same theme will be echoed in a parallel track “ from walled gardens to fat pipes”, being the way the WiMAX industry wishes to project this technology.The Congress will also provide updates on WiMAX testing and certification and regulatory developments. With Asia being one of the regions where WiMAX has advanced rapidly for providing broadband wireless services, the interest is high.
The Congress will also throw more light on the new opportunities arising from the OFDMA-TDD being accepted by an air interface by WRC-2007 and becoming one of the approved air interfaces under IMT advanced.
A number of new WiMAX devices are also readying for their entry, which include the likes of Nokia 810/830 Internet tablet and ASUS UMPC amongst others. The Exhibition will perhaps provide the best opportunity to see everything from wave 2 devices, base stations, networking equipment and consumer devices.
Almost around the world, in Las Vegas the NAB show(11-17 April 2008) will also open with its theme of IPTV and streaming media. WiMAX TV System is one of the products being highlighted by UDCast. As the new WiMAX networks go live, Video streaming and multicast is expected to be one of the most important applications of the new technology which provides an assured QoS for services, which go a long way from frozen frames or flickering windows of video delivered by the internet.

WiMAX as the Top Wireless Trend for 2008

Fortune has named WiMAX as the top ten wireless trend for 2008.The naming of WiMAX as the top wireless trend for 2008 has not come as a surprise to industry watchers. A number of developments, happening in their own areas are now coming together to deliver the promise of a completely new mobile wireless experience, the first in over a decade. There are no less than ten reasons, which we foresee today, which are likely to make this prediction ring true.

Firstly, the price of CPEs based on bill of material costs has for the first time forecast to be below $100 (e.g. by Wavesat®). This is even without any of the large scale introductions of WiMAX networks, and even with relatively low CPE volumes in existence today. With volume the prices are set to nosedive even further.

Second, the year 2008 is slated to be one, where large scale introductions of WiMAX networks will happen. The launch of XOHM by Sprint Nextel and WiMAX from Clearwire® will propel the availability of WiMAX to over 100 million of customers before the year is out. This follows over 200 trials and successful introductions in a number of countries.

Third, WiMAX technologies have now matured with the WIMAX forum certifying Wave 2 compatible mobile WiMAX devices. Chipsets are available e.g. from Beceem or Runcom amongst many others which provide immediate implementation of a variety of customer premises equipment(CPEs).

Fourth, the governments worldwide have now much higher awareness of the power of mobility as well WiMAX as an enabler of rural and urban connectivities and its potential in delivering high speed applications. With many of the countries adding 8-10 million users a month for mobile services, universal connectivity is squarely in focus. This is implying a better focus on regulatory issues to spur WiMAX networks.

Fifthly there is a greater availability of CPEs ranging from PC cards, USB modems, standalone gaming devices and internet tablets. Hence operators who do not possess wireline assets are now willing to take a plunge with the new technologies.

Sixth, there is now much better clarity on the use of spectrum for WIMAX and mobile WiMAX. With the WRC 2007 adopting the OFDMA-TDD as one of the approved air interfaces under IMT-2000 as well as clearly defining the WiMAX spectrum bands, many of the pending allocations can be quickly resolved.

Seventh, the success of programs such as M-Taiwan and Eratech® Argentina amongst many others have demonstrated that e-governance and universal connectivity are key drivers of global competitiveness. Regulators globally are seeking expeditious implementations of WiMAX networks, both through spectrum auctions as well as licensing etc.

Eighth, most of the legacy wireline and wireless networks based on TDM circuit switched architecture are nearing end of life and the new generation networks( NGNs) are invariably being implemented based on IP. WiMAX is one of the key wireless technologies which are based on completely open architectures, use of IETF protocols and use of IPv6. The use of WiMAX is seen not only as a migration to open IP core networks with support for mobility but also migration to IPv6 which is inevitable with growing base of mobile devices and mandates for such migration in many countries.

Ninth, the WiMAX technology, unlike its predecessor the WiFi, provides a number of quality of service classes, which can be defined for each connection and each application running over these connections. Thus it can support VoIP for rural telephony as easily as streaming video with their own QoS classes. It is now being seen as a key technology to enable true broadband capable of supporting a rich multimedia messaging and calling environments. Whether it is pictures with an 8Mp camera or an 80GB iPOD®, WiMAX can keep these wireless. Many applications are now ready to step out of the limited connectivity and the row resolutions enabled by today’s mobile networks.

Tenth and finally, all this would be in vain, were it not for some “big-bang” introductions of the technology, which immediately provide a critical mass for prices to come down sufficiently for even more users to subscribe to the service, thus creating a chain reaction.

With the impending launches in a number of countries, as well as launch of Sprint Nextel XOHM and Clearwire® services in USA, the stage is now fully set for just such a phenomenon.

Just as WiFi changed the landscape in the use of computers and mobile devices in just a couple of years, get set to witness the same for WiMAX this year. The drama is expected to unfold with veterans on the stage with the likes of Intel, Samsung, Motorola and Sprint being a part of the star cast and many years of rehearsing behind them. The drama will be played out on the world theatre, with virtually every country donning its colors and logo.

Sprint Announces Mobile WiMAX Services- To be marketed as XOHM

Sprint has been building the largest single Mobile WiMAX network using the 2.5 GHz band which has already seen successful trials. They are the largest holders of spectrum in this band by virtue of previous holdings and the acquisition of additional spectrum on AT&T Bellsouth merger. It is now known that this will be sold as XOHM.

The WiMAX network being rolled out by the combine is going live Chicago, Washington and Baltimore in the initial phase and will be nationwide by end of 2008 (have a reach of over 100 million in over 16 cities). The tie ups for the equipment, TV technology and the client devices have been made. These involve Motorola, Samsung and Nokia for the equipment and Samsung, Motorola and Intel for the chipsets and user devices. The TV technology is provided by the NDS WiMAX TV portfolio of products.

The network being based on universal mobile WiMAX technology will permit a broad range of devices from portable media players to PCs and various WiMAX cellphones, WiFi, cellular and internet WiMAX enabled devices to offer services ranging from VoIP to WiMAX TV.

Sprint intends to offer services in a dual mode manner to its existing CDMA subscribers as Wimax-CDMA services.It was at some stage felt that Sprint-Clearwire breakup will affect the rollout, but that does not expect to be the case.UMPCs and Nokia 810 Notebooks as well as other devices, PC cards and USB adopters will be the way to go before standalone devices make glorious debuts. ( based on Industry reports)

Initiating Mobile WiMAX Coverage- Self contained base stations
Feb 2008

Initiating mobile WiMAX coverage in areas where broadband wireless overlays are required has become much easier with the fully self contained base stations similar to MacroMAXe® from Fujitsu.

These base stations operate with the approved WiMAX Forum profiles and support the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz frequency bands, the prime bands for mobile WiMAX. With 20 Mhz channels and MIMO bit rates of 75 Mbps can be supported. The base stations are outdoor versions and feature power outputs of 10W.