MADUF is an IBBT project aiming to study the possibilities of
mobile television using DVB-H. The project participants are the
telecommunications operators Telenet, Belgacom and Proximus, the
VRT as manager of the transmitter network, and Siemens, Option
and Scientific Atlanta as suppliers of communications equipment
and systems. The project, which runs from 2006 to 2008, is being
supported by the research centres of the Catholic University of
Leuven (CUO and ICRI), the University of Ghent (IBCN, WICA, MMLab
and MICT), the Free University of Brussels (ETRO and SMIT), and
IMEC (DESICS).
Considerable interest in mobile television using DVB-H has been
seen recently in various European countries. The objective of
MADUF is to generate an optimum model for providing mobile television
services in Flanders via DVB-H and developing a proof of concept.
This involves investigating not only the technical options, but
also the legal and economic aspects.
In the technical area, the network architecture and transmitter
network will be elaborated based on transmission parameters and
equipment specifications. In addition, the architecture of the
software platform for providing mobile services via DVB-H will
be delineated. The research is based on previous IBBT projects
that examined specific user scenarios suitable for DVB-H. The
basic research will concentrate on the interactivity of the GSM
networks and specific coding mechanisms. The results will contribute
to the ultimate standardization of DVB-H.
The objective of the research into legal aspects is to develop
a stable legal framework by identifying, analysing and eliminating
potential legal hindrances to the development of networks and
services for mobile television via DVB-H.
The economic portion of the research will examine economic models
for cooperation between the various players in the media and communications
markets and study how the considerable investments can be made
profitable.
The collective results will be tested against the actual situation
for technical and user aspects in a proof of concept test starting
in the fourth quarter of 2006. A number of users equipped with
DVB-H receivers will subject the services to thorough testing.
This groundbreaking project unites several major players in the
media sector. It encourages the operators to market new services,
stimulates content suppliers to develop new elements in their
range, and gives manufacturers an opportunity to strengthen their
positions in the national and international markets. This in turn
will lead to job creation and added value in Flanders.
