Our take...
MFD already operates a mobile TV platform in Germany which uses technology standard DMB and which has also been deployed with TSMB. Local mobile operators O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone have created a joint venture and applied as well for the licence. However, media authorities favoured the more experienced TSMB/MFD duo. The German government has been clear about remaining technology agnostic although European Commissioner Viviane Reding is pushing the adoption of Nokia-backed DVB-H across the EU. The best way for Germany to strengthen the future coexistence of DMB and DVB-H is through awarding the DVB-H licence to the existing DMB platform operator. Screen Digest welcomes this decision in a nascent mobile TV market which ought to preserve existing services instead of adding pressure on them through unfavourable regulatory decisions.