SKT to launch TDMB mobile TV in two months (or three)

South Korea’s largest mobile operator SK Telecom (SKT) is to become the country’s third cellco to launch TDMB mobile television, when it rolls out the service in late March or early April, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. The operator is currently in negotiations with programme providers to finalise its TV content. TDMB is a mobile transmission standard designed to offer broadcast TV at a fraction of the cost of traditional DVB-H digital transmissions. Despite its reduced data rate, South Korea’s cellcos have opted to utilise TDMB over DVB-H for mobile TV due to the technology’s lower power consumption and simple receiver structure. Rivals KTF and LG Telecom launched their own TDMB services earlier this month.