South Africa - the Department of Communications has announced it wants Mobile TV, in the DVB-H format, licensed for SA by end of Q1 2009. Apparently there has thus far been delay due to the finalising of the policy - and that has been slowed because of cross-media ownership issues.

The Electronic Communications Act imposes strictures on companies and individuals controlling newspapers from owning commercial broadcasting services under certain conditions. MultiChoice currently dominates the satellite pay TV market and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of newspaper giant Naspers. MultiChoice is keen on entering the mobile TV market and has run a trial of DVB-H broadcasting with mobile operator Vodacom. It also on-sells some of its satellite bouquet to Vodacom for broadcast over 3G. MultiChoice yesterday said it was “excited and encouraged” by government’s new push for mobile TV. But Naspers’ dominance in the newspaper market and satellite environment may affect its mobile TV prospects.

Vodacom has said that it is going to wait and see on the outcome of the DVB-H license process - it already streams around 24 channels to 31K Mobile subs over 3G.

So South Africa is “next in line” to get Mobile TV - and again DVB-H is the planned bearer. Certainly when multiple bodies (Content partners, Operators, Regulatory) are involved, there does seem to be a swaying towards recognised and supported standards. Let’s see how this one plays out…..

[Via: itweb.co.za / Map image originally via: sa-venues.com]

---
Related Articles at IntoMobile:

• Iraq launches sale of three mobile phone licences
• Africa surpasses North America in terms of number of mobile subscribers
• Nokia Opens Office in Mozambique
• HTC exec claims Windows Mobile 7 slated for early 2009?
• Gameloft launches NFL 2009; American football fans rejoice

That being said, the country's fixed-line operator Telkom said it has received a non-binding proposal from Vodafone to sell piece of its 50% stake in the largest mobile operator in the country, Vodacom. Vodafone already owns the other half of Vodacon, and has previously stated its interest in gaining control. The Big Red carrier wants a further 12.5% stake in Vodacom and is ready to pay 18.75 billion rand ($2.47 billion) to get it. Telkom said the latest discussions with Vodafone began on May 14th.

At the same time, other players wants a piece of the largest South African mobile operator, as well. According to Telkom, they've received a letter from Mvelaphanda Holdings, together with Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and other strategic funders, for its entire issued share capital provided it unbundles its stake in Vodacom…

We'll keep watching the global mobile market and let you know as soon as we hear something else on this. Stay tuned.

[Via: Reuters]

---
Related Articles at IntoMobile:

• Vodafone launches Vodafone 125 and Vodafone 225, first ultra-low cost handsets
• Vodacom brings HSUPA to South Africa
• Sagem to make handsets for Vodafone
• First Vodafone specific S60-based software package
• Vodafone nixes Windows Mobile 920 handset

Customers who have opted to use HSDPA service for a fixed fee of R49.00 per month will will automatically receive HSUPA with no extra charge.

Commenting on the announcement, Vodacom Group's CEO Alan Knott-Craig said: "Vodacom continues to set the pace in wireless broadband technology in South Africa. With HSUPA, our customers will now have access to the fastest down- and upload speeds available, offering them a true broadband experience."

[Via: CellularNews]

---
Related Articles at IntoMobile:

• SMS used to find out person's HIV status in South Africa
• Vodafone launches Vodafone 125 and Vodafone 225, first ultra-low cost handsets
• Nokia Opens Office in Mozambique
• MusicStation launched
• Samsung goes live with first HSUPA handset - Samsung SCH-M470 does Windows Mobile and high-speed upload

Available exclusively in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless V CAST Music customers and in Cyprus, Egypt, France (SFR), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, South Africa (Vodacom), Spain, and UK to Vodafone customers, this mobile broadcast will reach hundreds of millions of Madonna fans via their mobile phones, celebrating the release of Madonna’s 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records, “HARD CANDY.”

The mobile broadcast is currently scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. EST via Verizon Wireless V CAST Performances and 3 a.m. GMT on May 1 on Vodafone Live.

The four songs will be archived on the V CAST Performances channel so fans that are unable to join live can enjoy this exclusive performance for 30 days.

“HARD CANDY” is the follow up to Madonna’s “CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR” which debuted at number one in 30 countries and has sold more than 8 million copies to date. “HARD CANDY” has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode, but this time adds an urban hip-hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of the Neptunes, and Nate “Danja” Hills.

Verizon Wireless customers will be among the handful of lucky winners who will attend the Roseland Ballroom show. Fans who downloaded the full-song, ringtone or ringback tone of Timbaland’s exclusive mobile underground remix of “4 Minutes” through Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music service had a chance to win a mobile ticket to this exclusive Madonna performance. The lucky winners received tickets on their mobile phones, which will admit them and one friend to Roseland on Wednesday evening. For more information, visit www.vzmobilestudio.com/madonna.

Madonna, a multi GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world-renowned stage performer, video visionary, children’s book author, director, and documentary filmmaker, has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade-plus career and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008.

In addition to Madonna’s original “4 Minutes” track, co-produced by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake and Nate “Danja” Hills, and the underground mobile remix available on Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Music and Vodafone, exclusive video footage of Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake’s mobile underground remix recording session is now available on Verizon Wireless’ V CAST Video service.

For more information on how to download Timbaland’s mobile underground remix of Madonna’s “4 Minutes” featuring Justin Timberlake, fans can text MADONNA to 8933.

The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone’s built-in GPS with Vodafone SatNav, powered by Telmap SatNav technology, enables users to find an address and track their location simply and easily as the route is displayed on a 3D map, together with audible step-by-step directions. The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone features a 2 megapixel camera with 5X digital zoom and enhanced flash. The camera also supports video capture in two resolutions (240×180 or 176×144) for sharing via email or MMS.And the rest of features are also same.