This year the topic that everyone will be talking about at the world’s largest mobile trade show is mobile TV. Broadcasting heavyweights MTV and Big Brother creator Endemol will both deliver keynotes on mobile TV at the Congress and a dedicated mobile TV network is being set up for the four-day event, 3GSM World Congress, which runs from February 13th-16th in Barcelona.

The TV network provided by Abertis Telecom will work over both DVB-H and DMB standards* and enable exhibitors to demonstrate the latest mobile TV content and technologies to the 50,000 visitors expected in Barcelona next week.  MTV will be providing three DVB-H channels at the event featuring MTV shows and music, Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon and IFILM, a new MTV brand dedicated to filmmaking. At the same time BT will unveil its launch device for the new BT Movio TV and radio service delivered over the competing DMB standard. 

"2006 looks set to be an exciting year for Mobile TV and 3GSM World Congress will bring together key industry innovators and commentators to discuss and showcase what’s in store for 2006,” says Bill Gajda Chief Marketing Officer for the GSM Association.  “The provision of TV to mobile, and available content, is a key issue in the convergence of telecoms, media & entertainment and content distribution debate." 

The GSMA has identified five major opportunities benefiting from Mobile TV:

• Viable new revenue stream for mobile operators
• Mobile manufacturers need to develop and produce mobile TV ready handsets
• Broadcast companies and content providers like Disney and Endemol can use mobile TV as a new channel for their existing and future content
• Gives advertisers a brand new medium through which to reach a diverse audience
• An exciting new platform for consumers to enjoy multimedia entertainment

Keynote speeches scheduled for Wednesday 15th February will look at the area of mobile entertainment and highlight expected developments in the mobile TV arena. SIDSA, an international provider of digital TV and broadband solutions, have forecast a significant growth in the mobile TV business over the next few years, predicting in 2006 there will be 1 million worldwide DVB-H mobile TV users; growing to 10 million in 2007.

Both DVB-H and DMB TV have already been utilised in UK trials by O2 and Virgin Mobile (through its TV over DAB trial) respectively in 2005. The network will also provide a unique platform for delivering news announcements and transmissions of conference sessions straight to delegates’ mobile phones.