Smart Trials DVB-H In Philippines

Smart Communications has announced a trial broadcast of mobile TV using the DVB-H standard, reports TMCnet via wires. Smart (which had 22.9 million subscribers at the end of September) said that it plans to spend $50 million over the next three years building out the DVB-H network. The trial will be in partnership with the broadcaster NBC — which is majority owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the same company which runs Smart Communications. The interesting part of the story comes halfway down when Smart is questioned about competing with other broadcasters in the nation. “Commenting on the issue of Smart preempting similar plans of network giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and the possibility of also competing with GMA Network, Inc., Mr. Vea brushed aside the concern. “We will not be competing with them. They can broadcast into our service under agreed terms. In fact, we can be the extension of their TV delivery,” Mr. Vea said. “And given that they will do, where will they broadcast? What phones? Who are their customers?”

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