What is DISH Networks going to do with their 6 MHz block, won in the FCC’s recent 700 MHz auction?
According to Unstrung, Frontier Wireless, the wholly owned subsidiary of Dish, bid about $711.8 million to snap up 168 licenses in the E-block during the recent 700 MHz auction. Their 8-K document filed Friday (March 21), says the licenses cover about 76 percent of the U.S. population.
But what kind of network is Dish Networks planning? The single 5 Mhz block (channel 56), adjoining Qualcomm’s MediaFLO on channel 55, doesn’t allow for very effective two-way communication. The 50,000 watt EIRP of the MediaFlo’s terrestrial mobile television transmitters might overpower weak radio signals.
CNN speculates that DISH may be looking at its wireless spectrum as a possible solution for Video On Demand, creating a wireless network focused solely on providing on- demand content to supplement its existing service.
The potential project could cost $500 million to $2 billion, say analyists, adding that DISH would have to swap out new set-top boxes.
Another option - although a less likely one - is to create a mobile video service, analysts say. The feature could work with Slingbox technology that Echostar’s technology sister company - owns. DISH could also turn the spectrum over to Echostar, which split from DISH at the beginning of the year.Solving the two-way problem is tougher, but isn’t impossible. DISH could employ a technology called time division duplexing to turn the unpaired spectrum into a full wireless network.
“It’s more complicated,” said Roger Entner, head of the communications practice at IAG Research. “You can do two-way, but it’s a pain.”
TDtv is a mobile multicast and broadcast technology that fits in 5 mhz. TDtv can deliver up to fourteen high-quality, 300 kbps broadcast channels using only 5 MHz of unpaired 3G spectrum. It’s a spinoff of Nextwave’s TD-CDMA protocol and contains a built-in uplink capability that will allow for TiVO-like interactivity, although it’s currently targeted at the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz band for mobile television. MXtv is their version for WiMAX mobile tv.
Satellite companies are also working to bundle their services with Clearwire’s Mobile WiMax system (See: Clearwire & SatTV Do a Deal). That strategy is thought to be more of a wireless broadband replacement of DSL or cable modems, rather than a mobile television deal.
Meanwhile, ICO Wants Its Mobile TV - via DVB-SH, not MediaFLO. DVB-SH is designed to deliver mobile television direct from satellite or through terrestrial repeaters.
DVB-SH (Digital Video Broadcasting - Satellite to Handhelds), delivers IP based media content and data to handheld terminals such as mobile phones based on a hybrid satellite/terrestrial downlink and for example a GPRS uplink.
ICO and Terrestar are the two competitors left standing for FCC mobile satellite licenses. They will offer ubiquitous satellite and terrestrial wireless service throughout the United States, using 20 MHz (each).
“Our next-generation wireless personal broadband networks are built to deliver data, voice and video over a single network,” said Scott Richardson, chief strategy officer for Clearwire. “Working with ICO to trial an interactive mobile video element that can potentially enhance our service offering not only in areas where we don’t intend to build our own network, but that can also potentially enhance the use of infrastructure and spectrum where our coverage overlaps, makes a lot of sense.”
ICO G1 is set to launch April 14. Craig McCaw’s big gamble for satellite phones is based on a Space Systems/Loral huge spotbeam spacecraft using terrestrial repeaters and based on the Loral 1300 platform.
Terrestar is deploying an Internet-HSPA solution for accessing the TerreStar all-IP network. Terrestar says they could launch a bird by September 2008, with service in 2009. TerreStar will use I-HSPA for Satphones.
Related Mobile TV on DailyWireless include; Spot Beam Sats Multiply, What’s Dish Network Planning?, Satphones: Merger Ahead?, WiMAX: No Satellite Interference says WARC, ICO Wants Its Mobile TV - via DVB-SH, TerreStar: I-HSPA for Satphones, Italy Testing DVB-SH Mobile TV, MediaFLO: In Trouble?, Where’s MediaFLO?,Motorola Does DVB-H, YouTube Mobilizes, The War on Mobile TV, Mobile/Handheld TV: Killer App?, AT&T Delays MobileTV Launch, MSS: AWS Alternative?, MobileTV: Modeo KOed by Crown, AT&T Buys 700MHz from Aloha, Qualcomm Buys Flarion, AT&T’s WiFi TV, Mobile TV War at NAB and NAB 2007: Dead Man Walking?.
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