EU calls for broadcasting framework

The European Commissioner telecoms and technology chief, Viviane Reding, has called for a legal framework to make it easier for consumers to access digital content, says The Wall Street Journal.

This would include an EU licensing system for copyright and other intellectual property rights in online services and EU rules to encourage the digitalisation of books. Another priority would be the creation of a safe system for mobile payments.

The commissioner also urged EU countries to speed up their switchover from analogue television broadcasting to digital as a stimulus for economic recovery.

Sudanese telco Sudatel is preparing for the roll-out of a digital video broadcasting handheld (DVB-H) mobile TV service in the African country, following a successful test in Khartoum earlier this year, reveals Digital Production News.

The service is expected to be made available in the coming months. However, the telco has declined to disclose further details about the project.

Mobile TV services are enjoying a rapid rise in popularity in the Middle East and North Africa region with DVB-H projects also planned for Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In Germany, digital video broadcasting mobile TV (DVB-T) has reached 90% of the population, according to the closing report of the TV Platform, which brings together all parties from the television industry, states Broadband TV News.

The milestone has been reached two years before the official analogue switch-off date at the end of 2012.

At the end of last year, a total of well over 16 million DVB-T sets were sold. Potential reach is now 74 million Germans, 30% of which can also watch terrestrial broadcast inside the home or on mobile devices.