Alcatel-Lucent powering Italian DVB-SH trial

Alcatel-Lucent has partnered with mobile operator 3 Italia and Italian public broadcaster RAI for a mobile TV trial based on the DVB-SH standard. The technology, which is an evolution of DVB-H, uses satellites to broadcast directly to mobile devices and integrates hybrid satellite and terrestrial networks.
The trial, which began this month, is taking place in Torino, Italy. 3 Italia’s cellular sites and RAI’s broadcast towers will both be used to cover the entire city. The trial is expected to run through March.
“For the first time in the industry, a broadcast mobile TV trial will showcase a network capable to satisfy the service needs of both mobile operators and broadcasters, spanning indoor, outdoor and in-car mobile TV usage. We are particularly excited by this unique partnership with 3 Italia and RAI that will allow us to demonstrate the advantages for the Italian audience of Alcatel-Lucent’s Unlimited Mobile TV solution based on the DVB-SH standard,” said Olivier Coste, chairman of the infrastructure vendor’s mobile broadcast business. Alcatel-Lucent will provide all the equipment and technical support for the trial.
Clearwire Corp. and ICO Global Communications Ltd., two Craig McCaw-backed companies, claimed to have announced the first such trial of this kind in September. That trial is set to begin early next year in Raleigh, N.C.