12
April 2015
NEWS & VIEWS
Promoting CMMB across Asia – more than just a vision
Can you give us an update on the acquisition efforts of Dish-HD Asia , and how this acquisition is key to the company ’ s CMMB deployment plans ? Charles Wong : We have effectively integrated the Dish-HD Asia team with CMMB Vision to jump-start the business planning , although final regulatory approval process on the purchase is pending . Dish- HD Asia brings an end-to-end service experience and content rights related to media and data delivery via satellite .
Furthermore , it was formerly the platform under EchoStar to develop and operate the CMBStar satellite partnership with the Chinese government in the mid-2000s , to provide CMMB mobile digital services across China . ( This venture was subsequently derailed due to unforeseen circumstances .)
Dish-HD Asia has relevant expertise and experience for CMMB Vision ’ s China business . The addition of Dish-HD Asia helps us to tighten the business and service development cycle .
How does the new generation of CMMB technology compare with that of the 2008 version ? What improvements were incorporated ? Wong : The CMMB standard in 2008 was the leading global mobile digital broadcasting technology ; it was superior to most comparable standards in the world , including DVB-H . Today , CMMB is the only fully commercialised technology with a vast and low-cost ecosupport system . To date , there are 60 million CMMB devices in consumer use , representing the world ’ s
In 2008 , China launched its home-grown mobile TV and multimedia standard called China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting ( CMMB ). While little development followed after its inception , along came the announcement late last year of a company that will bring the CMMB standard to the forefront once again . Millette Manalo-Burgos prompts Charles Wong , chairman and CEO of CMMB Vision , on how the company aims to make CMMB more than just a vision .
largest mobile broadcasting terrestrial network using television UHF frequencies .
The technology today has also evolved to NGB-W ( Next Generation Broadcast - Wireless ), which has exponentially better technical performance and spectral efficiency . And NGB-W is broadcastunicast convergent , meaning it has an internal return path , and at the same time , is cross-operable with other unicast mobile networks — such as 3G and LTE — to form a seamless hybrid network .
Will this new version of CMMB technology be the key to gaining a wider adoption of the service in China ? How will your company ensure the success of the new CMMB deployment ? Wong : The new technology is indeed a key driver and positions us above other competing technologies . However , when it comes to successful deployment , we need to be mindful of several key factors , including seamless system operation , ubiquity of coverage and access , a low-cost user-terminal ecosystem , and efficient operations
❝ To date , there are 60 million CMMB devices in consumer use , representing the world ’ s largest mobile broadcasting terrestrial network using
television UHF frequencies .❞
— Charles Wong , Chairman and CEO , CMMB Vision
and business models . One should not forget the CDMA versus GSM and Beta Max versus VHF fights .
Market adoption is another key . We are covering all our bases to avoid making similar mistakes .
There are several things we are doing to ensure success .
One is to use our own technology standard . This began as CMMB in 2008 , subsequently evolving to NGB-W . Another is to build our own satellite network . We are doing this through our partnership with New York Broadband ( NYBB ) of USA . NYBB acquired the on-orbit
L-band AsiaStar satellite and all the related regulatory rights . NYBB recently selected Boeing for contract negotiation to manufacture the next-generation high-power L-band satellite , which will replace AsiaStar .
Next , we are securing operating licences in China through a joint-venture platform with Global Media Broadcasting Group ( GMG ) of China Radio International , which is under the State Administration of Press , Publication , Radio , Film and Television ( SAPPRFT ).
Furthermore , we are working with the ecosystem supply chain to embed the satellite function into future consumer devices by creating a national satellite technology standard for essential government services , such as emergency broadcasting .
In parallel , we are quickly creating a full service and operating platform by acquiring Dish-HD Asia .
Finally , we are working to jump-start the business with “ low hanging fruit ” such as digital audio radio service ( DARS ) and other vehicular service , which can be supported by the current satellite .
Eventually , we plan to evolve to mass-market consumer-based multimedia services with the new satellite launch in 2017 .
Content-wise , what offerings will be made available in the CMMB platform ? Where will the
In enable the jump-start of its planned mobile multimedia service platform in China , based on the CMMB standard , CMMB Vision recently acquired Dish-HD Asia , a full-service satellite and digital provider . content be sourced ? Wong : We are targeting content services such as mobile video and entertainment ; DARS and vehicle entertainment and info services ; enterprise solution data delivery services ; and essential government services . Our role is to be an endto-end service provider . We will not create content ; instead , relying on partnerships to supply us with content and services .
Are you partnering with other technology companies — handheld device manufacturers , for example — to enable subscribers to access the services you will be offering ? Wong : Yes , we are talking to all major device suppliers , as well as mobile operators who have a mobile user subscriber franchise .
Will your service be made available to other parts of the region ? Will platform operators from other countries need to build / upgrade facilities in order to have access to CMMB services ? Wong : We will offer the services to other countries , using the coverage enabled by our satellites . We will introduce turnkey deployment solutions ; satellite network coverage , device ecosystem support , and service modules and know-how transfer in order to partner with local service operators and provide tailored local content and services .
Can you share with us other new developments that would have an impact on your company ’ s plans to deploy CMMB services in China ? Wong : The most recent developments include the selection of Boeing to negotiate a final contract for a new high-power L-band satellite , and the signing of a strategic cooperation framework with GMG under SAPPRFT .
We are now working on putting together a trial network in Beijing and Shanghai to jump-start the DARS and vehicular services while we continue seeking strategic operating and investment partners .
❝ Our role is to be an end-to-end service provider . We will not create content , instead relying on partnerships to supply us with content and services .❞