Since 2005 DVB-H service was launched as a trial in several countries in Europe (and outside of it) and there were some countries in which it was launched also commercially. However, since 2010 service providers experienced in more countries that the interest in mobile DVB service declined. Professionals share the opinion that DVB-H service did not fulfil the business expectations.
In Hungary, Antenna Hungária started the technical preparations of television programmes watchable on mobile phones in 2005 in the frame of the WING TV project, in which 8 European countries were cooperating. Having completed the commissioning of the pilot television transmitter, Antenna Hungária carried out the mobile television standards related measurements. After completion of the WING TV project, negotiations concerning the way of cooperation with thee mobile operators started.
Antenna Hungária and T-Mobile started a joint mobile television test on April 1, 2007. As part of the agreement concluded by the two companies, a comprehensive technical test was started in April 2007 for several months. The experts of the two companies tested how the broadcasting network of Antenna Hungária could be connected to T-Mobile's mobile technology to be suitable for DVB-H service. Thus providing high quality telecasting on any mobile device that is equipped with a television receiver.
Since November 2007 until January 2008 AH transmitted 14 channels in Budapest under a friendly user test with the participation of T-Mobile and Vodafone. In addition to television programs some interactive services – file downloading, voting - were also tested in the trial. Through the test, Antenna Hungária intended to improve the technological solutions for the future commercial service, to realize the smooth introduction of them and to work out the conditions of a high-level service.
The National Communications Authority issued a tender call in the spring of 2008 for the operation of five digital terrestrial television networks and one digital terrestrial radio broadcasting network. Antenna Hungária won both tenders. On 5 September 2008 the National Communications Authority and Antenna Hungária signed the contracts for the operation rights of the digital terrestrial television and radio broadcasting networks by means of which in December 2008 the DVB-H commercial service was launched in Budapest on one multiplex from three sites (the Széchenyi Hill station, the one in Száva Street and Hármashatár Hill).
Thanks to the set transmitter power and transmission parameters the reception was good in the biggest part of Budapest, even inside buildings and outdoor coverage exceeded the borders of Budapest. All three transmitters broadcast the programme on the same frequency, UHF 38 television channel. The transmitters made a synchronised, single frequency network (SFN). The mobile television network had a 16% population coverage in Budapest and its surroundings.
Within the frames of the trial service the owners of mobile phones with DVB-H receiver had the opportunity – free of charge - to choose from the programmes of Duna TV, Duna II Autonómia, ATV, Hír TV, the programmes m1 and m2 of Hungarian Television and from the three public service channels of Hungarian Radio (MR1-Kossuth, MR2-Petőfi, MR3-Bartók).
Similar to many countries, it was not successful to develop the business model within the frames of which the commercial DVB-H service could start.
The modified authority contract made with the National Media and Infocommunications Authority on 19 July 2011 provided the opportunity for Antenna Hungária to use multiplex B for DVB-T services instead of DVB-H transmission.
On 29 September 2011 our company stopped DVB-H transmission.
Mobile television (DVB-H) pilots