The big test of 'TV in your pocket' is starting

• The service will be tested by more than 250 users in the next two months
• Users can view ten appealing TV programs
• Commercial launch will require DVB-H multiplex allocation and a change in the Communications Act

Prague, 24 October 2006 - T-Mobile, together with Radiokomunikace, today launch a six-week public test of its "TV in your pocket" project, which involves digital TV broadcasting that is intended for handsets based on the DVB-H standard. Since its premiere last year at the Invex trade fair, the service has received many further advanced features. For the first time, the signal will be broadcast across a large territory that includes Prague, and it will also cover the interiors of buildings. The users will be able to choose from ten TV programs which they can switch between using both interactive controls as well as the Electronic Program Guide (EPG). On this project T-Mobile cooperates with technological partners (Gemalto, Motorola, Nagravision, Rohde & Schwarz, Sagem, Samsung, Siemens and TIM) and content providers (Ceska televize, CzechTourism, Euronews, Filmbox, JETIX, National Geographic, Ocko, Playboy TV, Prima TV and TOP TV).

"We have made significant progress since the first introduction of "TV in your pocket" last year, both in terms of user-friendliness and in the scope of TV programs and other services provided for our customers," says Jiri Dvorjancansky, T-Mobile's Executive Vice President Marketing, adding: "We are very happy that with this project the Czech Republic has become one of the pioneering countries where DVB-H could become a commercially successful multimedia service."

Pilot operation
Testing will take place throughout the territory of Prague from October to November this year. "TV in your pocket" will be tested by more than 250 users, both customers and employees of T-Mobile. The main objective of the pilot operation is to test the individual elements of the service as well as customers' preferences and behavior prior to the service's commercial launch. The main supplier of mobile phones for the pilot operation is Motorola and the signal will be broadcast from the Strahov transmitter using the Radiokomunikace network.

"When preparing the pilot operation in DVB-H format, we could build on the knowledge we acquired with implementing digital TV broadcasting. However, certain specifics related to DVB-H technology, such as signal coverage in the interiors of buildings, were still a challenge for us," says Ing. Martin Roztocil, Broadcasting Service Director of Radiokomunikace a.s.

One of the key innovations introduced during the testing was the encryption of the broadcast content. The encoding of the individual programs is an elementary condition for a successful commercial operation of the service because it ensures the required protection of the broadcast programs. T­Mobile can therefore guarantee to its media partners authorized broadcasting of the content they provide.

The most important element of the whole system is an innovated T-Mobile SIM card that will allow users to access their ordered part of TV broadcasting. This includes the channels included in the program package of their choice, as well as additional premium TV channels and special programs, such as sports matches and concerts.

New features - greater comfort for users
Altogether, ten TV programs are offered, six of which are freely transmitted and four encoded. The covered areas include news broadcasts, TV documentaries, films, programs for children and teenagers, as well as adult-oriented programs.

Freely transmitted programs:

• CT24
• CzechTourism - an information channel for tourists
• Euronews
• Ocko
• Playboy TV
• t-music
• TOP TV

Encoded channels:

• Filmbox
• JETIX
• National Geographic

Customers using the "TV in your pocket" service are not limited to passive viewing; they can also use the service for many interactive tasks such as downloading ringtones and melodies, ordering SMS and MMS information channels, accessing websites on the internet, etc.

Users can also use the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) for finding the currently broadcast programs as well as an overview for the next week. It can also be used for setting notifications for selected programs.

For those interested in the service, there is a presentation room available at T-Mobile headquarters where they can try it out.

Partners
The thorough testing of mobile TV is a result of intensive cooperation with partner companies that are leaders in their segments. The main technology partners of the project are Radiokomunikace (network for broadcasting in the DVB-H format), Siemens (system platform), Motorola, Sagem, Samsung (front-end facilities), Rohde & Schwarz (DVB-H network components), Gemalto and Nagravision (solutions for service-access protection), and TIM (testing of DVB-H roaming).

The attractive content for end users is provided by the following media partners: Ceska televize, CzechTourism, Euronews, Filmbox, JETIX, National Geographic, Ocko, Playboy TV, Prima TV and TOP TV.

The future
T-Mobile plans to launch the "TV in your pocket" service on a commercial basis in as soon as possible, ideally in 2007. This will only be possible, however, if certain necessary conditions are met, particularly multiplex (radio frequencies) specification and allocation for the broadcast network in the DVB-H standard by the Czech Telecommunications Office. Given the high costs of setting up the DVB-H network and the long period of return on these investments, the DVB-H network will need to be shared among a number of operators. Another key condition is implementation of necessary changes in the Act on Electronic Communications, on the basis of which Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting will grant its consent with the broadcasting of programs in the DVB-H network.

T-Mobile believes that "TV in your pocket" will appeal to a wide range of customers and that it will become an example of successful high-tech cooperation in the provision of multimedia services. 

Presentation from press conference is here.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.