MiTV and Nokia announce live DVB-H mobile TV service for Malaysia

Some people think DVB-H will take off, I’m not in that camp. None the less Nokia (NYSE: NOK) Siemens has just announced a deal with MiTV at Nokia Connection 2007 that states it will provide an end to end solution for MiTV’s 0180 Mobile TV service. As far as I know the only DVB-H enabled product Nokia has is the N77, just how hard will Nokia push DVB-H in the future?

Full press release after the jump

MiTV and Nokia announce live DVB-H mobile TV service for Malaysia

June 18, 2007

MiTV’s 018 broadcast mobile TV service and Nokia Siemens Networks bring commercial DVB-H to consumers

Singapore – Global mobility leader Nokia and MiTV Corporation Sdn Bhd (MiTV) today announced their collaboration to launch a commercial mobile broadcast TV service, based on Digital Video Broadcast – Handheld (DVB-H) technology, in Malaysia in the second half of 2007.

Announced at Nokia Connection 2007 in Singapore, and also in conjunction with Broadcast Asia 2007, the agreement is among the first of Nokia’s commercial mobile TV service rollouts utilizing DVB-H technology globally. Earlier last year, Vietnam became the first market in APAC to roll out commercial DVB-H services.

In the deal, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide MiTV’s 018 mobile TV service with an end-to-end deployment process which includes implementation, integration, and application development services. They will also maintain MiTV’s infrastructure on a turnkey basis.

Dato IR Hj. Rosman bin Ridzwan, Chairman, MiTV Corporation said: “This latest collaboration with Nokia marks another important milestone in our preparation to launch our high speed mobile 3G service in the second half of this year. With strong industry players behind us in network infrastructure, coverage and other technologies, we are absolutely confident that we can deliver genuinely customer-driven products and services that we believe will bring the work-life balance back into their lives.

“With Nokia, this mobile TV experience utilizing the latest DVB-H technology will be an important component in delivering this promise. Soon, our customers will be able to watch the latest news, engage in music videos and documentaries or even catch their favorite TV series anywhere, anytime directly on their mobile devices, bringing them closer to the information and entertainment that they value most”, he added.

Jawahar Kanjilal, Director, Multimedia Experiences, Nokia Multimedia Asia Pacific said: “We are delighted to be part of this great development in Malaysia with MiTV. This marks the beginning of exciting times in the Asia Pacific broadcasting industry, bringing digital television to consumers’ pockets and ushering in a new era of personal interactive entertainment. The Nokia N77 multimedia computer will be a key element of this consumer offering, and we look forward to the continuing development of broadcast mobile TV services in the region.”

Under the agreement, Nokia and MiTV are committed to implementing a true mobile TV experience, based on an open DVB-H standard, enabling viewers in Malaysia to watch DVD-like quality broadcast television ‘on the go’. With Nokia’s integrated DVB-H device the Nokia N77, the two organizations are confident of delivering a rich broadcast mobile TV solution for the enjoyment of MiTV’s customers.

Kenneth Chang, Executive Director, MiTV Networks said: “The experience will be unlike any other mobile TV offerings currently available in the market. MiTV’s DVB-H service doesn’t rely on packet-based technology, so there’s no streaming and lag associated with it. You will be able to switch between channels instantaneously, and on top of that, the picture quality and reception will be better than any video streaming service available today. It will be totally revolutionary – a true mobile TV experience that we believe will delight our customers tremendously.”

Bill Chang, Country Director, Malaysia, Nokia Siemens Networks said: “We are excited to play a significant role in MiTV’s mobile entertainment strategy, through the deployment of this mobile TV service in Malaysia for the first time. This is also aligned to our vision of connecting five billion people globally by 2015, through broadband everywhere.”

In Asia Pacific, Nokia has already spearheaded several mobile TV technology showcases in countries such as Singapore, India, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Taiwan, as well as conducted many trials in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.