Mobile Satellite TV
Has Great Growth Potential In Europe
(8 May 2008) While the European Mobile
TV market is on the verge of significant growth, it still faces problems
related to the efficient transmission and distribution of Mobile TV
services.
This being the case, recent and emerging studies have
clearly shown the use of satellite technologies for Mobile TV services to be a
sensible and cost-effective solution. Hence, the use of satellite services can
be expected to significantly aid the sustainable growth in spread, quality and
reliability of mobile TV service offerings.
New analysis from Frost
& Sullivan's Space & Communications Group, European Mobile Satellite TV
Markets, finds that the market earned revenues of US$ 1.92 million in 2007 and
estimates this to reach US$ 3,273.9 million in 2014.
"As Mobile TV
services continue to grow across Europe, customers and operators require a
reliable and pervasive service coverage, which can transmit high-quality,
dedicated programs," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Natalie Bentz.
"The distribution and transmission by satellite, through the hybrid network or
backhaul, will both greatly contribute to the success of Mobile TV by providing
what the industry and the customers ask for."
The hybrid network
solution for Mobile TV offers great potential in terms of distribution,
answering the operators' and customers' needs for reception in urban and rural
areas, as well as indoor and outdoor settings. Furthermore, the utilisation of
the S-band, which will be allocated European Union wide, will reduce spectrum
difficulties that could be experienced when using other
frequencies.
Using satellite backhaul for the distribution of Mobile TV
has fundamental advantages, as backhaul is a known solution for data and video
applications. Another advantage of satellite backhaul for Mobile TV is that in
contrast to the direct/hybrid satellite solution in the S-band, this model is
not affected by the standardisation problem. Further, as this solution does not
involve a direct link from the satellite to the end user, no specific devices
or chipsets are needed.
However, both hybrid network and satellite
backhaul solutions face some problems in the market, including competing
alternatives through terrestrial networks.
"By the time of the scheduled
availability of the satellite segment for the hybrid solution, terrestrial
alternatives will already have established themselves in some markets," says
Bentz. "The solution of satellite backhaul faces problems related to the
bandwidth hungriness of Mobile TV applications."
Overall, the example of
the Mobile TV market in Italy shows that there is still significant room for
improvement and that the hybrid network solution can bring just that, as
customers require a high level and spread of service coverage and
quality.
European Mobile Satellite TV Markets is part of the Space &
Communications Growth Partnership Service program, which also includes research
in the following markets: Commercial Geostationary Transponder Markets for
EMEA, NAM and Asia and Eastern European VSAT Markets.
Frost &
Sullivan, the Global Growth Consulting Company, partners with clients to
accelerate their growth. The company's Growth Partnership Services, Growth
Consulting, and Career Best Practices empower clients to create a growth
focused culture that generates, evaluates, and implements effective growth
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community from more than 30 offices on six continents.
(source: Frost
and Sullivan)
