Brussels, 10/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections under the EC Treaty's state aid rules to financial support granted by France for the research and development (R&D) project entitled “Télévision Mobile Sans Limite” (Unlimited Mobile TV). The project is headed by Alcatel-Lucent and involves ten other partners. Together, they intend to develop a solution combining satellite and terrestrial networks with a view to broadcasting television on mobile telephones. The aid amounts to €37.6 million.
The Unlimited Mobile TV project seeks to develop a new mobile television broadcasting solution working in the S band (at the 2.2 GHz frequency). This will differ from current technology in the number of channels it will be able to broadcast, its reception quality, including inside buildings, and its extensive geographical coverage. By using a satellite it will be possible, for example, to reach non-urban areas and thus offer a new service to European consumers. The solution will also incorporate a crisis management service which will enable national authorities to alert the population quickly in the event of major disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, terrorist attacks, pollution incidents, nuclear accidents, etc.
The analysis carried out by the Commission shows that the European markets for mobile television are still emerging and do not generate spontaneously the partnerships that are needed to bring about unlimited mobile TV. The aid makes it possible to tackle the market deficiencies which are hampering the speedy establishment of structured coordination between manufacturers of satellites, terrestrial network infrastructures, mobile telephones and semiconductors. (cd)