The number of notebook PCs with HSPA/LTE mobile broadband connectivity in Europe will grow from 8.4 million in 2007 to 49 million in 2013, according to researchers.
A study by analyst firm Berg Insight says the development will be driven by consumer demand for ubiquitous internet access.
It forecasts that rather than replacing fixed networks for internet access, mobile broadband will be a complementary access technology to the connection available at home.
But Tobias Ryberg, a senior analyst at Berg Insight, said the explosion in network utilisation – which equates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.1 – will present the mobile network infrastructure with a “formidable challenge”.
As embedded HSPA/LTE chipsets gradually become a standard feature in notebook PCs designed for the European market over the coming three to five years, end-users will simply need to insert a SIM-card into their computer to get online at virtually any location.
“Every mobile broadband service provider has a dilemma,” he said. “On the one hand they have a highly attractive proposition – a novel mobile service with high ARPU.
“On the other hand, the very popularity of the service stretches the mobile network infrastructure to its utmost limit – threatening to degrade the level of service for all subscribers.”
Mobile data traffic, primarily generated by USB-sticks and PC-cards, already exceeds mobile voice traffic in terms of volumes on advanced markets.
In Sweden for example, some half a million mobile broadband terminals are estimated to have generated twice as much network load as all 10 million handsets in the country combined.
Consumers already account for 80 per cent of the data volume in spite of only making up roughly 40 per cent of the mobile broadband subscriber base.
The report says the main response by operators has been to impose some restrictions on data traffic.
It adds that the actual data speed is normally much lower than advertised due to lack of network capacity.
Ryberg concludes that significant network investments are urgently needed if operators want to keep up with demand.
“In a few years, internet users will expect to be able to view full-HD streaming IPTV via their Internet connection,” he said.
“Then it will not do to offer 14.4 Mbps which is actually 1 Mbps or unlimited data traffic which is in reality limited to a few gigabyte per month.”
Tag: hd
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Surging demand for mobile connectivity and services such as HD streaming IPTV poses dilemma for broadband network operators in Europe
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Study says 2008 will be the year of HDTV in Asia
Seventy-five per cent of pay TV operators in Asia have, or expect to have, HDTV programming by the end of 2008.
But the lack of substantial HDTV content – both local and international – is seen as being the most important roadblock for developing the HDTV sector in the region.
These are among of the findings of a survey carried out for MEASAT Satellite Systems by Euroconsult into the development of high definition television in the Asia-Pacific region.
The study, which was conducted during May, polled the rationale, benefits, challenges and expectations of HDTV amongst the regions’ leading pay TV
operators.
A total of 25 operators in 15 markets, collectively serving more than 24 million subscribers, were interviewed.
It showed operators as generally bullish on the outlook for HDTV, with a majority expecting it to increase ARPU or profits on its own.
HDTV, which most saw as “here to stay” and destined to become a “must have” offering, had been identified as a key strategic priority for their business.
The study indicated that the rollout of HDTV is being spearheaded by newer pay TV platforms looking to differentiate their offerings from existing platforms.
More established platforms were taking a slower approach to implementing HDTV.
Interviews conducted suggested that HDTV was seen as not particularly easy or difficult to introduce.
The lack of substantial HDTV content – both local and international – was viewed consistently as the most important roadblock for developing the HDTV sector in the region.
Paul Brown-Kenyon, chief operating officer of MEASAT, said the results of the study were very interesting.
“The insights will help us determine how best we can support our customers and partners in the development of this important segment,” he said
Pacome Revillon, managing director of Euroconsult, said the study provided clear evidence of faster development of HD offerings in Asia than previously expected.
“Opportunity for growth and increasing competitive pressure are the primary factors driving pay-TV broadcasters to develop an HD offer,” he said. -
HDTV poses challenge to crowds at live sports events as fans opt for armchairs
It used to be that fighting your way through crowds to get a close-up of sporting stars such as Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal was infinitely better than sitting at home watching the TV coverage.
But as growing numbers of sports fans upgrade to HDTVs it would appear that the lure of live events could be diminishing.
In the US, a top football club is experiencing what is likely to be a growing trend: a fall in season tickets sales as supporters decide they get a better view staying at home and watching games on their HDTVs.
Steve LaCroix, the Minnesota Vikings’ vice president of sales and marketing, said that HDTV is making his job more difficult.
The Vikings recently announced that its 2008 season ticket base would be 55,000, down 6,000 from just a few years ago.
“(But) I don’t think the renewal percentage is a factor of a fan-base erosion or anything,” he said.
“It’s just a matter of the challenge of the Metrodome and people leaving their high definition televisions at home to come sit in the Metrodome in some of the upper sections.”
The Vikings, whose regular season games are broadcast by Fox, can usually be seen each week in HD.
The Vikings’ experience is likely to become an increasingly common one – especially as ticket prices rise and networks and regional sports channels expand their HD lineups. -
JVC launches HD camcorder with ability to record up to 50 hours of video
The first ever AVC/MPEG-2 HD camcorders are to go on sale this summer.
JVC’s Everio HD30 and HD40 are the first camcorders that capture picture in AVCHD (H.264) or MPEG-2 format with the ability to use either.
The dual-format provides access to the superior long time compression afforded by AVCHD, as well as MPEG-2’s superior editing and post-production environment.
With the ability to record up to 50 hours of 1920×1080 video in Extended Play mode, the HD40 also claims to be the “longest-running HD camcorder available”.
Full quality recording time is 15 hours.
The HD40 boasts a 120GB HDD and the HD30 offers the same recording capabilities but with a built-in 80GB HDD instead.
JVC is also offering a third HD camcorder aimed more at the entry level. The HD10 has a 40GB HDD and has a 1440×1080 resolution.
All three Everio models supports HDMI 1.3 output with Deep Color on compatible HDTVs, a newer HD Gigabrid Duo image processing chip and the option of using either Firewire or USB for transfers.
The camera lines come with Windows editing software and a plug-in to allow MPEG-2 editing in Final Cut Pro and iMovie. AVCHD support is already built into Apple’s latest software.
The camcorders are to go on sale in early August with price tags of $800 USD for the HD10, $1,000 USD for the HD30, and $1,300 USD for the high end HD40. -
Deal signed with Intelsat to provide HD transmissions from Beijing Olympic Games
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has signed a multi transponder deal with Intelsat Ltd for the video carriage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to Europe.
C-/Ku-band cross-strap capacity on the Intelsat 706 satellite, located at 50.2 degrees East, will be used to distribute the all high definition event to EBU members.
Intelsat is the only global satellite operator to have provided coverage of every Olympic Games since 1968.
The EBU, of which a large proportion of the major European broadcasters are members, provides a full range of network services, including but not limited to HD transmissions to broadband video carriage.
Stefan Kurten, director of the Eurovision Operations Department, said: “By using Intelsat to deliver the Summer Games, we are confident that our members will benefit from the reliable service Intelsat offers when it comes to large scale events.” -
The iPhone takes on new role as universal remote control
A new application is to go on sale in July that turns the iPhone into an all-purpose remote control capable of operating everything from your HDTV to audio, video and lighting.
While the iPhone is popular as an interface for home-control systems such as home automation (HAI, Savant), multiroom audio (SpeakerCraft) and media servers (Sooloos), so far there hasn’t been a low-cost solution for using the iPhone (or iPod Touch) as an ordinary universal remote control.
Now London-based integrator, Steve Moore, has launched the AirRemote application which he modestly describes as “the greatest little TV remote you’ve ever used”.
The setup includes the AirRemote software and a communications box from Global Cache, which can turn the iPhone’s IP commands into signals to operate an array of home electronics devices.
“The beauty of the iPod Touch or iPhone versus other tablets is that it has bullet-proof Wi-Fi, doesn’t need to wait for Windows to boot up, and can be held in a hand,” Moore told CE Pro.
“And they sell loads of them so they cost almost nothing.”
AirRemote will be available from July 11th exclusively from the iPhone App store for $99. The Global Cache transmitter will retail for about $100.
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Wireless high definition transmitter removes clutter of cables
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Monster Cable has unveiled a transmitter that wirelessly sends HD video signals from a device such as a Blu-ray player to a high definition TV up to 10m away.
The transmitter sends the video signal using ultra-wideband, or UWB, technology from Sigma Designs Inc.
It will also upscale non-HD signals to high-def resolution before displaying on screen. A receiver plugs into a HDMI port on the back of the TV.
To back up the short-range wireless capability, the boxes can also connect via coaxial cable to reach each other in different rooms, up to 110m away.
Noel Lee, president of Monster Cable, which is better known for its expensive video and audio cables, said: “We had opportunities with lots of other systems that just didn’t have the quality of service.
“Sigma is the first partner we found … that has a robust enough technology.”
The Monster Digital Express HD boxes will be available in the US in October for $299.95 each.
UWB is just one of several technologies being utilised for wireless HD connections, an area that has presented problems in maintaining a steady flow of wireless data at very high speeds.
A consortium that includes Sony, Toshiba and Intel is promoting another wireless technology called WirelessHD, with transfer speeds that are even higher than UWB. -
Up close and personal – porn industry turns on to high definition
A leading maker of adult movies is to release all new titles on Blu-ray Disc as well as on standard definition DVD.
Digital Playground says it is the first mainstream studio to opt for the “same day” treatment for HD discs.
The porn maker will also begin converting one previously released title to Blu-ray every week.
Such a move is likely to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of adult titles available on Blu-ray.
Samantha Lewis, CEO of Digital Playground, which has already released 21 HD sex films, said it was the first adult studio to make dual releases.
“DP has become the first adult studio to make all their Blu-ray releases day and date with standard DVD,” she said,
“This is something no mainstream studio has done yet, so it’s quite noteworthy for the future of the Blu-ray format."
The studio’s library includes such films as Pirates and Cheerleaders. -
High Definition footage of action adventure game for iPhone released
Apple has released HD footage of a demonstration of the upcoming iPhone fantasy game Krull created by Barcelona-based Digital Legends Entertainment.
The 3D mobile game uses a combination of touch-based controls and accelerometer mechanics.
Dynamic shadows and other handheld-level effects are also on display in the footage received by Shacknews.
Xavier Carillo Costa, CEO of Digital Legends, said his team only got the iPhone SDK two weeks before the demo, and that the port itself took just four days to create.
Krull is expected to be available available from the upcoming iPhone App Store in September, following the July launch of the new iPhone 2.0. Based on Apple founder Steve Jobs’ WWDC keynote address other original games should also be available, which iPhone users should be able to download wirelessly from their phones.
Earlier this month it was announced that iTunes will be launching movie rentals and sales via iTunes in the UK, with 100 being available in HD.
The move, as with that for Canada, is a result of deals signed with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., MGM, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, said the iTunes Store in the UK would have over 700 films for purchase and rent.
“We think customers in the UK are going to love being able to enjoy their favourite movies on their iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV,” he said. -
More HD titles needed to boost up-take of Blu-ray players
With Blu-ray sales still not setting the heather alight much has been made of the high cost of HD players and continued viewer satisfaction with standard-definition DVD.
Paul Erickson, director of DVD and HD Market Research at DisplaySearch, is in no doubt these are big factors contributing to Blu-ray’s slow shift into the living room.
Adding to the picture is the emergence of online content delivery as a viable source of HD programming, something that is seen as posing a real threat to Blu-ray’s long-term survival.
“As online delivery services from Netflix, Microsoft and other players continue to evolve and mature over these next few years, and consumer bandwidth increases, there is considerable pressure for Blu-ray to make its mark on the mainstream,” said Erickson.
“Price-based accessibility has remained a significant constraint. Therefore, the recent introduction of a sub-$300 Blu-ray player (by Wal-Mart) is a step in the right direction.”
But what is also needed, according to Erickson, is for more HD programming to be made.
“Should the collective companies and studios with a stake in Blu-ray Disc engage in price aggression on both hardware and software over 2008 and 2009, it will greatly increase the format’s representation in the eventual mix of video content delivery options being utilized by the consumer of the future.”