Alcatel-Lucent, 3 Italia and RAI trial DVB-SH mobile TV in Italy

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU), the mobile operator 3 Italia and Italian public broadcaster RAI have launched the first trial of Mobile TV based on the DVB-SH standard in Italy.

Those not familiar should know DVB-SH stands for Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite services to Handhelds and is an evolution of DVB-H, because it provides higher spectrum efficiency and allows integration with hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks. The trial, based on Alcatel-Lucent’s Unlimited Mobile TV solution, uses for the first time in the world a multi-layer DVB-SH terrestrial network blending low-power transmitters from a mobile operator and medium-power transmitters from a broadcaster.

Torino is the place to be where 3 and RAI will co-operate to allow outdoor and vehicular coverage of the entire town of Torino, while Alcatel-Lucent is providing the DVB-SH equipment, the network planning, the network integration and the technical support.

The first phase of the trial has already started and will end in March 2008. In a second phase, the broadcast signal from a satellite will be emulated by a transmitter located in a high-altitude helicopter. Finally, in a longer term perspective, tests with satellites in operation will be carried out in cooperation with a major satellite operator.

The S-Band spectrum (2.17-2.20 GHz) is available throughout Europe and can be used to deploy across the whole continent mobile satellite services such as Mobile TV… Full release is available from here.