Germany

[DE] The DLM Adopts Key Features of the DVB-H Trial

IRIS 2007-3:1/18

Nicola Lamprecht-Weißenborn

Cologne Media Law Research Centre

At its meeting on 25 January 2007, the Direktorenkonferenz der Landesmedienanstalten (Conference of Land media authority directors) decided on the key features of a nationwide trial of mobile broadcasting services using the DVB-H standard (see IRIS 2007-2: 10).

The aim of the project is to develop a workable overall system for the digital terrestrial transmission of broadcasting services and telemedia. The full bandwidth of an analogue television channel (8 MHz) will be made available throughout the country for the trial of the DVB-H standard (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld). Capacity in the respective networks will in particular be allocated to channels that broadcast to a large reception area, to specialist news, music and sport channels, to regional TV channels and radio stations. The remaining capacity may be given to groups of companies, who are paying special attention to telemedia.

A nationwide call for tenders for the available capacities will be issued immediately. Since the process, which will last three years, is subject to respective Land laws, applicants must, if in doubt, submit applications to all Land media authorities, requesting the necessary licence in accordance with media law.

The DLM stressed that the chosen project does not represent a decision to abandon the DMB standard (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting).