October 3, 2005
Tight squeeze for mobile TV
TV service on the go is being touted as the next big moneymaker for mobile phone operators-- but if too many people tune in, carriers' brand-new third-generation networks could be overwhelmed. news.com reports.
"According to a recent report from Analysys, an independent research group in the United Kingdom, capacity on a third-generation, or 3G, wireless network could be exceeded as early as 2007 if 40 percent of subscribers view even eight minutes of video per day.
"Streaming video consumes 10 times the bandwidth over a network that voice traffic consumes," said Alastair Brydon, one of the authors of the report. "So watching 10 minutes worth of video per day will have a significant impact on the network. Right now, the 3G networks are empty, so it's not a problem. But if the service proves popular, then it could be a big problem."
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