TRA launches public consultation on mobile TV

Muscat, Oman: As part of its endeavour to introduce world-class telecommunications services in the Sultanate of Oman, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) announced that it was in the process of developing regulations for the introduction of Digital Video Broadcasting-Handled (DVB-H).

As a first step, the authority launched a public consultation on mobile television. The consultation seeks opinion on various issues related to the introduction of Mobile TV in the Sultanate. DVB-H technology is the version of Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) adapted for mobile devices.

It is a standard offered by the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) Project for broadcasting TV and data content to handheld devices. The major issues mentioned in the consultation paper are; reception types, business models options that would provide the best services to the society, operators' interest, and spectrum allocation and assignment. Commenting on the consultation paper, Yousuf Bin Abdullah Al Balushi, TRA's Senior Manager, Spectrum Management Unit, said, "The implementation of the service involves many players, including mobile operators, broadcasters, content providers, and service distributors.

The TRA invites all interested parties to express their opinion on the consultation document published in the local newspapers, as well as the authority's website. Through this public consultation the TRA seeks written comments from interested parties on the questions stated in the consultation paper. All comments will be studied carefully." The consultation response deadline is September 22 and the full consultation document can be viewed on the TRA website www.tra.gov.om, Al Balushi added.