Digital video broadcasting tech for hand-helds launched

WiFi Networks, a Bangalore-based technology firm, has announced the launch of a platform which will enable television programmes to be beamed into a mobile phone or any handheld device.

The technology is called Digital Video Broadcasting for terrestrial/Handhelds (DVB-T/H), which will enable high video quality and is service provider agnostic. In other words, one need not depend on a service provider like Airtel or Vodafone to beam these programmes to your handset.

While this technology is showing some levels of acceptance in a few pockets of European Union, the entry of this service into India is expected only after one year and a half. The issue of licence and the requirement of spectrum for this service is yet to be finalised upon.

Broadcasters like Star TV or Sony TV will be bidding for this spectrum and a company like WiFi Network will provide this DVB-T/H platform for these companies to tailor feeds to a handheld. WiFi Networks will be getting into a revenue share arrangement with these broadcasters for its share of revenues.

Said Mohan Raju, managing director, WiFi Networks, "We have developed an end-to-end suite of products including interactive solutions using the DVB-T/H (digital video broadcasting) technology. Wi-Fi aims to provide interactive video services on TV and mobile devices on a revenue-sharing business model."

WiFi Networks currently is running a Proof of Concept of its platform with a couple of broadcasters in countries outside India and they are hoping to get the deal going within this year. A spokesperson for WiFi Networks declined to state the geographies. Currently, a mobile handset which will enable this transmission is available with a starting price of Rs 10,000 going upto Rs 40,000 and is manufactured by Nokia, Sagem and a few others.

This new platform is a diversification for WiFi Networks who for the past four years have been focussing on telecom value added services segment. This company provides the platform for a range of television broadcasters and radio stations to solicit SMS for various game shows, reality shows and opinion polls.

The company has pacts with Sun TV, Suvarna TV, Radio Indigo besides a few other South-based focused broadcasters. The company currently employs 220 people. The market for these services is estimated to be in the range of Rs 500 crore and growing at about 8 per cent per annum.

The firm has till now seen investments of about Rs 50 crore. "We are set to break-even operationally in six months," said Raju. It now has 95 per cent of the market in south India.