O2, Orange, and Vodafone to Jointly Launch Pilot of New Broadcast Service in UK
O2, Orange, and Vodafone to Jointly Launch Pilot of New Broadcast Service in UK
An Initiative to trial 3GPP Broadcast Solution called Integrated Mobile Broadcast (IMB) provided by Ericsson, IPWireless, and Streamezzo
London, UK – June 22, 2010 – Today, three of world’s largest mobile operators, O2, Orange, and Vodafone, announce an initiative to jointly pilot a new mobile broadcast system capable of delivering data intensive services such as mobile TV in a more efficient way.
The multi-operator pilot, which will run for three months commencing in October 2010 in central London and Slough, will assess how mobile broadcast services can be deployed using shared network infrastructure.
IMB is a standardised 3GPP technology recently endorsed by the GSMA. As well as offering broadcast services to customers, it can seamlessly link with traditional unicast or on-demand services delivered over 3G.
The mobile operators are exploring using the IMB wireless technology within a little used tranche of 3G spectrum called Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum. This spectrum already forms part of the 3G licences held by many European mobile operators, but has remained largely unused because of a lack of appropriate technology. Currently, 3G TDD spectrum is available to over 150 operators across 60 countries covering more than half a billion subscribers.
The pilot will demonstrate the capabilities of IMB in delivering both live streaming video and offloading traffic from existing 3G networks by broadcasting and storing popular content on the device. This technology has the potential to deliver a compelling “user experience at lower cost than conventional solutions.
“With the strong growth of data traffic on our 3G networks and the mobile industry’s recent support of this high performance broadcast technology, the time is right to move forward with an IMB initiative,” said Luke Ibbetson, Head of Technology R&D at Vodafone Group. “By joining our peers in this UK Pilot, we expect to be able to explore the potential of delivering broadcast services across available 3G spectrum.”
“Already a leading provider of mobile TV in Europe, our experience shows consumers will take advantage of linear broadcast services if the network experience is consistently good,” said Thierry Bonhomme, EVP in charge of Networks, Carriers and R&D at Orange. “Network capability is key for mobile TV roll-out and IMB will enable more operators to maximize the benefits they get from 3G investments with high quality TV service deployments on an efficient, pragmatic and scalable solution that works from country to country.”
“We believe the road is clear for IMB now that it has been endorsed by the GSMA and supported by the wider mobile ecosystem,” said Gavin Franks, Head of New Business Development at O2. “Based on the results of the pilot, we anticipate being able to offer our consumers through our networks a range of innovative new broadcast services such as mobile TV and intelligent broadcasting that will lead to an enhanced user experience.”
“We are pleased to see the UK’s major operators working together to evaluate and better understand how to best leverage this new standardised technology,” said Dan Warren, Director of Technology at the GSMA. “The key learnings from this UK Pilot have the potential to benefit and create new opportunities for the mobile community worldwide.”
IPWireless and Ericsson, two of the pioneers behind the development of IMB technology within 3GPP, have partnered to deliver the end-to-end technology solution for the UK pilot. IPWireless will supply the core 3GPP broadcast technology that will explore the performance of the TDD spectrum for mobile broadcast services. Ericsson, as the prime integrator, will provide integration services and a media platform. Streamezzo, recently acquired by AMDOCS, is a leading software publisher of open mobile development platforms and will provide the rich media user interface for the pilot.
Ends.
For further information:
Orange (London)
Georgina Hart
+44 7730 989 693
georgina.hart@orange-ftgroup.com
Orange (Paris)
Tom Wright +33 1 44 44 93 93
tom.wright@orange-ftgroup.com
Vodafone Group Media Relations Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444
O2 Press Office Tel +44 (0) 1753 565656
About Orange
Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators. With almost 131 million customers, the Orange brand now covers internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates. At the end of 2009, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 45.9 billion euros (10.9 billion euros for the first quarter 2010) and at 31 March 2010, the Group had a customer base of 183.3 million customers in 32 countries. These include 123.7 million mobile customers and 13.5 million broadband internet (ADSL) customers worldwide. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies. The Group's strategy, which is characterized by a strong focus on innovation, convergence and effective cost management, aims to establish Orange as an integrated operator and benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. Today the Group remains focused on its core activities as a network operator, while working to develop its position in new growth activities. To meet customer expectations, the Group strives to provide products and services that are simple and user-friendly, while maintaining a sustainable and responsible business model that can be adapted to the requirements of a fast-paced and changing eco-system. France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information (on the internet and on your mobile): www.orange.com, www.orange-business.com,www.orange-innovation.tv
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group with approximately 341 million proportionate customers as at 31 March 2010. Vodafone currently has equity interests in 31 countries across five continents and around 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com.
About O2
• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is a leading communications company for consumers and businesses in the UK, with 21.4 million mobile customers and over 600,000 fixed broadband customers as at 31 March 2010.
• Telefónica O2 UK Limited is part of Telefónica Europe plc, a business division of Telefónica S.A. which uses O2 as its commercial brand in the UK, Ireland, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic, and has 53.9 million customers across these markets.
In 2006 Telefónica Europe acquired Be, the UK fixed broadband provider, and in October 2007 O2 launched its broadband service using the Be network.
- O2 is the naming rights partner of The O2, the world-class entertainment venue.
- O2 employs around 13,000 people in the UK and has 490 retail stores.
- O2 was ranked highest in customer satisfaction for both UK mobile and fixed broadband customers according to the J.D. Power and Associates UK Mobile and Fixed Broadband Studies 2010. O2 Home Broadband came top in 10 out of 11 categories in the uSwitch Broadband Customer Satisfaction Awards 2010.
- O2 was launched on 1 May 2002 and now has more customers than any other UK mobile network. O2’s UK mobile network covers 99% of the UK’s population. O2’s 3G network covers over 84% of the UK population and is fully HSDPA-enabled, providing speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps for customers with an HSDPA-enabled device.
- Telefónica Europe also owns 50% of Tesco Mobile, which operates in the UK and Ireland, and 50% of Tchibo Mobilfunk in Germany.
For further press information about O2 go to www.o2.co.uk/news
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