Giving mobile TV a helpful push… Handheld Digital Video Broadcasting has strong supporters in Brussels. The media commissioner, Viviane Reding, says ‘wait-and-see’ is not an option. She is urging Europe’s industry and governments to switch on, saying:

The EU took the lead globally with mobile phones, and should not dawdle behind competitors in the television market. For example, the mobile TV penetration rate of high-tech South Korea is close to 10%. Yet penetration in the EU’s most advanced market, Italy, it is still less than 1%.

As part of its promotional bid, the Commission is in favour of a common technical standard, with DVB-H the strongest contender. With important sports events coming up in 2008, the telecoms authority is keen to capitalise, to raise consumer awareness about mobile TV services.

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