National Grid Wireless begins DAB-IP and T-DMB trial

9th Sep 2006

National Grid Wireless, one of the UK's leading providers of broadcast infrastructure, has begun technical trials of DAB-IP and T-DMB, two of the bearer technologies, which could be adopted for the provision of mobile media services in the UK.

The services are being transmitted on the Stoke-on-Trent DAB multiplex and carry video and audio content supplied by the operators of the multiplex, UTV-Emap Digital. The technical trial is monitoring the relative performance of both technologies in rural and urban areas, including within buildings. The trial will enable the company to determine the full requirements for the introduction of enhanced data services onto conventional T-DAB platforms.

The multiplex system has been provided by RadioScape and is currently the only system operating that supports both T-DMB and DAB-IP. The video encoding system has been provided by Pixtree.

Mark Watkins, director, mobile media, at National Grid Wireless, said: "This work supports our stated objective of being able to deliver a range of technologies that meet the network needs of our customers. At the same time this trial is providing us with invaluable information that we will be able to utilise in the design and implementation of the mobile media networks of the future."

National Grid Wireless will release the results of the trial in late 2006.

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