Qualcomm isn’t going to let the European Commission block them out of the mobile TV market just because the EU is officially backing DVB-H mobile TV standards. To that end, Qualcomm has just snatched up a 40Mhz swath of L-Band spectrum in the UK for $16.3 million. The purchase will apparently let Qualcomm test their MediaFLO network in the UK in hopes of proving to the general public (and government regulators) that MediaFLO can hang with the DVB-H standard.
The push to bring MediaFLO to the UK is significant, although no where near what Qualcomm is investing in to the US mobile TV market. Qualcomm is putting up $800 million to build out their MediaFLO network in The States, with Verizon Wireless and AT&T on-board to use the mobile TV network.
Still, the purchase of spectrum solely for MediaFLO could help Qualcomm bring MediaFLO to the forefront of mobile TV service in the UK. “Could” being the operative word here.
“Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to develop, test and explore a variety of innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole,” said Andrew Gilbert, executive VP for Qualcomm.
[Via: RCR News]