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Research Reports

TV Anytime, Anywhere? Satellite and Terrestrial DMB Terminals

December 13, 2005 / Hsiao-Yun Lee

24 Page, Topical Report

US$1,320 (Single User License)

Abstract

DMB service unites the rich content of broadcasting with the mobility of wireless communications. It is an extension of the DAB standard, which is limited to voice services, while DMB also offers data, text message, and video services. As DMB signals can also be received while in high-speed environments such as cars, it is regarded as a service with large growth potential. Besides a broad set of policies put in place by the Korean government to stimulate growth of DMB service, Korean operators, terminal makers and other relevant companies are aggressively developing all sorts of devices. This report analyzes the current state of development of DMB services and terminals in Korea, and takes a look at the potential competition between S-DMB and T-DMB.

List of Topics
Korea's DMB service environment and forecast, including competitive relationship between terrestrial and satellite DMB; DMB-equipped mobile phones, notebook PCs, TVs, in-car equipment, and other consumer electronics being rolled out in Korea; efforts by the Korean industry and government to develop a terminal export market overseas

ARD, Bavarian State Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and New Media, BBC, Beijing Jolon, Beijing Radio, Cowon, Cyber Bank, Deutsche Telekom, Digifriends, DLR, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, European Telecommunications Standards Institute, GT Electronics, Guangdong Yue Guang DMB, Hyundai Autonet, Hyundai KIA, InnoAce, Institut fur Rundfunktechnik, International Telecommunications Union, Ipirus, JAS System, KBS, KMMB, Korea DMB, Korean Broadcasting Commission, KTR, LG, LG Telecom, MBC, MBCo, Ministry of Information and Communications, MNBT, Nokia, ORF, Pantech, Perstel, Reigncom, Renault Samsung, Samsung, SBS, SK Telecom, SK Teletech, SRG/SSR, Toshiba, T-Systems, TU Media, VDL, VK, YTN, ZDF

List of Figures
Figure 1 Korea's T-DMB Service Roadmap

List of Tables
Table 1 S-DMB Receiving Bandwidth

Table 2 Korean S-DMB Development Roadmap

Table 3 Korean S-DMB Subscribers, May-October 2005

Table 4 Korean S-DMB Subscriber Forecast, 2005-2010

Table 5 Korean T-DMB Subscriber Forecast, 2005 - 2010

Table 6 S-DMB and T-DMB Service Development and Technology Specification Comparison

Table 7 S-DMB Mobile Phone Specifications

Table 8 T-DMB Mobile Phone Specifications

Table 9 T-DMB Notebook PC Specifications

Table 10 Car DMB Device Specifications

Table 11 Other DMB Device Specifications

DMB Potential

Korean DMB systems have given rise to products combining communications and broadcasting functions, and it has forced the industry to rethink traditional media categorization. DMB integrates all available functionalities of digital equipment, and consumers only need one portable device to make use of all these functionalities. Mobile television undoubtedly will become the next killer application in mobile communications. DMB service has the advantage of being low-priced, and people are able to make use of it at any time and any place, and these factors are expected to contribute to significant growth of DMB services in Europe and China, as they will also be stimulated in these regions by the 2006 soccer World Cup and the 2008 Olympic Games.

Competition between S-DMB and T-DMB to Heat Up

With the start of commercial T-DMB services in Korea in December 2005, competition between S-DMB, which is pushed by telecommunications operators, and T-DMB, pushed by broadcasters, will become more intense. T-DMB is transmitted through broadcasting systems just like regular television service, and does not need telecommunications channels required by S-DMB. Target users of T-DMB service are the general population, as it is a free service, and to accommodate demand from different groups in the population, terminal makers have been developing a broad collection of models. S-DMB's target users are mobile phone users, as the service is pushed by operators. Besides mobile phones, operators such as SK Telecom also have telematics systems in place, and therefore a lot of S-DMB car devices are hitting the market in Korea.

Furthermore, Samsung and LG are currently developing mobile phones which support both T-DMB and S-DMB, and it is expected that when these products will hit the market, they will be able to stimulate growth in the DMB market. Currently, the two companies have already finished work on chipsets for these kinds of handsets, and Samsung in November revealed the world's first model of this kind, the SPH-B4100. These handsets are a threat to TU Media, as the company is set to lose the advantage of being the only one active in the S-DMB mobile phone segment. With the Korean government spending a great deal of effort on developing the DMB market, it remains to be seen how mobile phones supporting both T-DMB and S-DMB will develop in the future.

Appendix

Glossary of Terms

DMB		Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
DAB		Digital Audio Broadcasting
S-DMB		Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting
T-DMB		Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting

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