Australian carrier Telstra unveiled Bigpond TV yesterday, its mobile TV offering to 3G and Next G mobile phone subscribers. The service lets users choose from twenty-five TV programs.
Unlike existing Foxtel pay TV content already available on the Telstra network, Bigpond TV allows subscribers to watch shows at their leisure because it’s an “on-demand” service. Two of the shows available are being produced exclusively for Bigpond TV.
Rival Australian carriers 3, Optus and Vodafone all have similar mobile TV services, but Bigpond Managing Director, Justin Milne, said Telstra’s Next G network will offer better coverage and higher speeds than competitors.
Telstra utilises the HSDPA technology on its Next G network which experts claim can bring much enhancement to the user experience, especially in mobile TV delivery.
Mobile TV Technology Down Under
Despite this, Australia maybe behind with mobile TV technology. Even with HSDPA, mobile TV is still ultimately being broadcast across often congested mobile internet networks.
In comparison, countries such as the US are using DVB-H which allows compatible handsets to receive mobile TV over the air. In fact, the European Union has just endorsed DVB-H as a standard throughout Europe.
Mr. Milne said in Australia there are no plans for DVB-H or any similar technologies at this stage. The spectrum hasn’t been auctioned, nor are there any licenses or legislation in place.
