14 DAY TRIAL // The future of DVB-H as the main mobile TV protocol is endangered in its wide adoption by alternative video services. YouTube is one of them, with the help of 3G that makes it possible to transfer video files at great speeds.
The European Commissionchose DVB-H as the main mobile TV standard for Europe. The main reason for their choice was that it has already extended a great deal in other countries and presented a huge amount of potential. Still, streaming video now accounts for 36 percent of all web traffic and the YouTube video accounts for 10 percent of all traffic on the Internet.
The reason for this situation mostly comes from the fact that people want media content matching their interest. Old-fashioned TV is not capable of providing it, which also triggered the evolution of alternative solutions for watching programs. This is where YouTube's part starts, as a solution for fast video information right on the spot.
Because of this, DVB-H feels like narrowing down on opportunities. Mobile TV could also work if they could deliver in a fast way episodes of good shows, movies or other programs adapted to handset requirements and constrains. The problem with this comes from the fact that mobile TV might not even have the chance of reaching such a high evolution level.
A solution to this problem might be that of combining the two. Unicast services are for the limitless content selection through limited bandwidth while boradcast networks like DVB-H deliver the content large masses want to consume at the same time like news, live sporting events, business media and so forth.
Another solution might be that of developing an adaptation of mobile TV combined with the on demand video content. Users could then benefit from the same information as those watching TV, only with a certain amount of selectivity, as they could choose which program they want to watch and when.