First Trial of DVB-SH Mobile TV

Alcatel-Lucent, in cooperation with mobile operator 3 Italia and Italian public broadcaster RAI are conducting the first trial of mobile TV based on the DVB-SH standard in Italy. DVB-SH is an evolution of DVB-H, which provides a higher spectrum efficiency and allows integration with hybrid satellite/terrestrial networks.

The trial will take place in Torino and it will be overseen by RAI Technological Strategies Dept., Raiway and RAI Research and Technology Innovation Centre. Cellular sites provided by 3 Italia will allow the indoor coverage of Torino's downtown, while broadcast towers provided by RAI and Raiway will allow outdoor and vehicular coverage of the entire town of Torino.

Alcatel-Lucent will provide the DVB-SH equipment and technical support and will be in charge of the planning and integration of the network. Alcatel-Lucent's DVB-SH low-power repeaters will be co-localized with the live UMTS sites of 3 Italia and connected to the UMTS antennas.

The trial will consist of two phases. The first phase, taking place from December 2007 to March 2008, will consist in a technology trial to validate the capability of DVB-SH to make available a large number of high-quality mobile TV channels, in various usage conditions. The first phase of the trial will be only terrestrial.

In the second phase of the trial, the broadcast signal from a satellite will be emulated by a transmitter located in a high-altitude helicopter. A real life business situation will be simulated, where trial participants will be provided with commercial DVB-SH handsets. In a longer term perspective, tests with satellites in operation will be carried out assisted by a major satellite operator.

The trial is expected to demonstrate the improved reception quality made possible by the DVB-SH standard, due to the enhanced radio performance for mobile reception related to the use of the S-Band, in particular for indoor and critical outdoor reception environments.