The Finnish Government has granted Digita the operating licence for a mobile television network. Digita will be responsible for the broadcasting network and administration of channels as the network operator.
In addition to Digita, the operating licence was applied for by Elisa Corporation, TeliaSonera Finland Plc and Telemast Nordic Oy. The network will be built using the DVB-H technology (Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld).
”We are, of course, happy with the decision and the fact that the decision was made so quickly. Finland is a highly advanced country in terms of technology, and now we will be the first country in the world to benefit from a commercial mobile television network. We are delighted to participate in the development and to be forerunners in providing Finland with new services”, says Executive Vice President Ilari Anttila from Digita.
The new network will initially offer television broadcasts, games and interactive services to the end-users.
The first stage of network rollout in 2006 will cover the area inside the Ring Road III in the Helsinki region and the cities of Turku, Tampere and Oulu. The network will reach 29 percent of the population in Finland by the end of 2006. Digita has already made plans to extend the network to cover the majority of Finns. Negotiations with the possible service operators will be opened on the basis of these plans.
The network will be rolled out as a terrestrial digital mass communication network to a so-called fourth multiplex for mobile television operations. Digita has strong experience in wireless television, radio and data communication networks. Digita’s business model includes open, shared networks, which Digita offers as a neutral operator to all customers with equal, nondiscriminating terms. The business model has been proven sensible and cost-efficient, because it allows several parties to utilise the same network.
Digita’s customers in mobile television network will be either content creators or service operators, whose customers are the actual end-users of the service – consumers, enterprises and communities. The service operators can define the prices of the services offered in the network.
Digita participated in a consumer pilot project carried out in co-operation with several enterprises in 2005. The project tested the attractiveness of mobile television, or mobile phone television, to the consumers. The results were positive: The consumers were interested in the services of the network and willing to pay for the services. Digita is also participating in the Forum Virium Helsinki project, which develops digital services and contents in co-operation with several operators in the field.
Digita / Communications
Digita Oy is the leading Finnish distributor of radio and television services, and an important developer of data communication networks and network infrastructure. Digita’s nationwide organisation ensures the high quality of services 24 hours a day. Digita’s customers include television and radio broadcasting companies, as well as mobile and broadband operators. The company’s turnover was 89 million euros in 2004 and it employs 374 people. Digita is part of the international TDF Group.