Qtel has already built the network for DVBH (Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) and the service will be available on a trial basis during the 15th Asian Games in Doha.

Qtel CEO Dr Nasser Marafih told Gulf Times here yesterday for the first time in the entire Middle East Qtel would bring broadcast services to DVB-enabled handheld terminals (mobile phones) during the Asian Games.

Between December 1 and 15 the service would be freely available to a select group of customers. Only about 1,380 DVB-enabled handsets will be available during the Asian Games.

He said the commercial launch of DVBH was expected during the first quarter of 2007. Currently only a handful of equipment manufacturers have deployed the DVBH technology.

"Hence getting adequate DVB handheld terminals is a big task," Dr Marafih said.

He said television programmes from popular broadcasters including Al Jazeera, CNN and Cartoon Network besides QTV would be beamed across Qtel’s DVBH network.

When asked about its potential, he said, "Hopefully, there will be a demand. People on the move may need to see their favourite TV programmes live and DVBH facilitates that. Nevertheless, we need to see how the market responds."

Dr Marafih said DVBH technology was quite new and available only at very few places worldwide. And in most places it is under trial. He also said Qtel would launch an advanced cable system called Triple Play during the Asian Games.

Built on the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Triple Play can support audio, video and data through a single line. Since the new cable system would be built on the ADSL, subscribers will have the option of simultaneous signing up to both cable TV and the Internet.

Currently, Qtel uses ADSL for providing high-speed Internet service to both corporate and retail customers.

Asked whether Triple Play’s launch would result in the phasing out of Qtel’s existing cable services MVDS (new system) and MMDS (old) he said, "In the long run it may happen."