CAMBRIDGESHIRE, United Kingdom-Mobile TV and other wireless video services could overwhelm third-generation networks within two years, according to a report from technology consultant firm Sound Partners.
Carriers rushing to push video services with low prices-or even offering free mobile video-risk clogging their networks if too many users embrace wireless TV, the report said. Potentially heavy usage requires operators to better manage services, technologies and price points.
“Our modeling reveals that the capacity of a typical W-CDMA network could be exceeded as soon as 2007, for example, if 40 percent of 3G users take up mobile TV and video services and consume eight minutes of video per day,” said Alastair Brydon, co-author of the report.
Dedicated broadcasting technologies including DVB-H, DMB and MediaFlo could help carriers off load network traffic, and the firm suggested operators look to the little-known Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Standard on 3G networks, which could be available next year.
