July 22, 2005
Free Mobile Broadcasting to Start Nationwide in 2006
Free broadcasting services to handheld devices like cell phones may be offered across South Korea next year after testing later this year in Seoul and the surrounding Kyonggi Province, reports The Korea Times.
"The service, called terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), enables people on the road to enjoy crystal-clear video, theater-like audio and receive data via handheld devices.
Although the government plans to expand the DMB services nationwide next year, experts point out there still remain many obstacles to be overcome for the scheme to work.
"First of all, the government has to find TV channels for every region and that will be a difficult task because most frequencies are already occupied by other services," a Seoul analyst said.
He added that even after the government secures band spectrums, it would have a hard time finding companies that are willing to pour money into the small regional mobile broadcasting market.
"Commercial viability of terrestrial DMB in the regional cities and counties is not so good. I am worried that no companies will pick up the business," the analyst said."
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