Orange and Sunrise: withdrawal from mobile TV project with Swisscom
The two telecommunications companies Sunrise and Orange have pulled out of a joint mobile TV project with Swisscom. Nevertheless, Swisscom, which holds the corresponding license, is sticking to its plans for a corresponding network. By Euro 08, almost half of the population should be able to watch television on their cell phones.
The two telecommunications companies Sunrise and Orange have pulled out of a joint mobile TV project with Swisscom. Nevertheless, Swisscom, which holds the corresponding license, is sticking to its plans for a corresponding network. The Federal Communications Commission (ComCom) granted Swisscom the license for the development of mobile TV in accordance with the DVB-H standard at the end of September. Swisscom, Sunrise and Orange tested the new technology in a pilot project at the end of 2006. Subsequently, a cooperation project was launched for the commercial introduction of mobile TV. The two partners withdrew from the joint project at short notice, as Swisscom announced on Wednesday without giving reasons.
"The project is too expensive. We are refraining from the commercial launch of a DVB-H mobile TV service in the coming year, as we currently consider the Swiss market to be too immature for this," said Sunrise spokeswoman Sevgi Gezici when asked by Werbewoche. However, it is quite possible that both Sunrise and Orange will launch such an offer at a later date.
Swisscom is nevertheless convinced that mobile television in digital quality meets a growing customer need. The aim is for almost half of the population to be able to watch television on their cell phones by Euro 08.
For this first phase, the planning priority is to cover the Euro 2008 host cities of Bern, Basel, Zurich and Geneva. According to the press release, around 26 antennas at existing locations are required for this. In total, Swisscom is investing tens of millions in the introduction of mobile TV.
"The project is too expensive. We are refraining from the commercial launch of a DVB-H mobile TV service in the coming year, as we currently consider the Swiss market to be too immature for this," said Sunrise spokeswoman Sevgi Gezici when asked by Werbewoche. However, it is quite possible that both Sunrise and Orange will launch such an offer at a later date.
Swisscom is nevertheless convinced that mobile television in digital quality meets a growing customer need. The aim is for almost half of the population to be able to watch television on their cell phones by Euro 08.
For this first phase, the planning priority is to cover the Euro 2008 host cities of Bern, Basel, Zurich and Geneva. According to the press release, around 26 antennas at existing locations are required for this. In total, Swisscom is investing tens of millions in the introduction of mobile TV.
