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TRAI proposes bidding for mobile TV license
By siliconindia
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Saturday, 05 January 2008, 17:41 IST
New Delhi: With a view to bring in new operators to offer mobile TV services, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has suggested that the Government should hold a bidding process for issuing licences for the purpose.
Existing mobile operators will be allowed to offer mobile TV without having to take a new license. They will not be given any additional spectrum for the purpose too.
Only those companies taking part in the bidding process will be given eight Mhz spectrum along with the license. TRAI has however barred broadcasting companies from holding more than 20 percent stake in a mobile TV provider.
In its draft recommendations on mobile TV, TRAI also suggested that the policy should be technology neutral and the choice should be left to the service provider. The regulator, however, said that technology used should be such that it allows subscribers to change the service provider without having to change the handset.
Mobile television services refer to provision of television services for subscribers to view on handheld or portable devices. Technically, there are two main ways of delivering television content to mobile devices, via mobile telecommunications networks or by using broadcasting technologies. At present, only Doordarshan has commercially launched the service.
Telecom companies are also planning to foray into this segment because its huge revenue earning potential. However, they will either have to take 3G spectrum or bid for a mobile TV license.
