Korean technology to be trialed during World Cup

In light of the World Cup, Europe is taking great interest in Korea’s digital technology, especially since Germany will offer terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (TDMB) services during the games. The technology, developed by Korea, enables users to watch terrestrial broadcasts on mobile devices even when moving at high speeds. In Germany, TDMB programs will be broadcast in eight major cities including Berlin, Munich and Cologne, and will be expanded to 12 cities within the year and nationwide next year. On Tuesday, Information Minister Roh Jun-hyong, who is on a European tour to promote Korea’s information technology expertise, attended a “Dynamic Digital Korea” event at the Munich University of Technology. Mr. Roh gave a lecture on the development and growth engine of Korea’s IT industry for students and faculty. The previous day, Mr. Roh visited England and attended a seminar on a mobile TV trial to compare test services of Korea’s TDMB and England’s DVB-IP technology. England’s BBC and ITV plan to develop a live TV broadcast service for mobile phones in conjunction with Korean handset makers Samsung and LG Electronics. The World Cup will be a pilot service period for TDMB. Through mobile phones that support the technology and special receivers that can be attached to portable multimedia players or laptop computers, users will be able to view data contents such as World Cup-related information, transportation and travel information as well as live streaming of local broadcasts. Five video channels and three audio channels will be provided in the test TDMB service ― one of the audio channels in English and the rest in German. Four video channels will broadcast existing programs made and one channel will be devoted exclusively to TDMB content. Korea is also taking the initiative in providing the devices on which to watch TDMB. LG Electronics provided 400 third-generation TDMB handsets to the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for Commercial Broadcasting at the TDMB World Cup Trial Service Conference held Wednesday at the Literatur Haus in Munich. The phone, which has a high-resolution screen and “3D” sound, will be used by members of the World Cup organizing committee and international media during the trial service period, allowing them to watch digital broadcasts of World Cup matches while on the move. by Wohn Dong-hee