Pvt players may get to use DD's towers

Private broadcasters and mobile television operators may soon be able to offer mobile television. That's because the government is considering a move to allow private companies to use Prasar Bharati's television transmitters selectively in a few cities, to begin with, to offer mobile TV services.

This move is significant as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is giving final touches to its recommendation on allowing mobile TV services that allow users to watch live and recorded programmes on mobile handsets.

While various technologies are available for the transmission of mobile television including use of satellite, experts consider terrestrial transmission of mobile television signals, as the most cost-effective solution and the one which is being used globally.

At present countries like South Korea, Japan, Italy, the US and UK offer mobile TV services. And there are three different types of technologies for the delivery of mobile TV across the globe "" the South Korean standard, the European standard and the other offered by CDMA company, Qualcomm.

Both broadcasters as well as telecom companies have expressed keen interest in providing mobile television services as it would provide them with an additional source of revenue.

Currently, only the state-owned Doordarshan is allowed to terrestrially transmit its 17 channels through the 1,400-odd high- and low-powered TV transmitters across the country. It has undertaken a pilot project with Nokia to air DD channels in certain areas of Delhi.

While the government did not consider Trai's consultation paper on the private participation in terrestrial transmission using Doordarshan's infrastructure suggested three years ago, it may give its nod for the selective use of DD's transmitters for mobile TV services, sources said.

Commenting on Trai's proposed recommendations on mobile TV, Arvind Mohan, vice-president (legal and regulatory affairs), Essel Group, said: "To run mobile TV services, the operators will have to broadcast the signals terrestrially, else mobile TV services will be very costly. Once we go through Trai's recommendations, we will urge the government to allow the use of Doordarshan's infrastructure."