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Week ending February 16, 2008

ITU - Fully Networked Car 2008 brings Formula-1 flavor - February 11, 2008

Event unites ICT and motor industries to examine networked car technology

This year's Fully Networked Car event at the Geneva International Motor Show will take on a motor sport theme as well as tackle the pressing issue of global climate change. For the third year running, ITU will team up with ISO and IEC under the World Standards Cooperation (WSC) banner to host the Fully Networked Car workshop and exhibition at the Geneva International Motor Show, 5 − 7 March 2008.

The Fully Networked Car will focus on information and communication technologies (ICT) in motor vehicles and, specifically, on standards that will facilitate the convergence of these industries. In the context of new ITU initiatives to develop long-term solutions using ICT to combat climate change and global warming, a key question will be: How can ICT in vehicles help mitigate and monitor climate change?

An exclusive feature of the exhibition will be Honda Racing F1 Team's new 2008 Formula-1 "Earthdreams car" - emphasizing environmental concerns and pointing towards green automotive technologies of the future. Experts believe that more sophisticated traffic management and driver assistance systems can help reduce the environmental impact caused by motoring.

The Fully Networked Car 2008 will feature a keynote speech from Max Mosley, president of the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), the governing body of motor sports worldwide - including the Formula One World Championship - and a global organization concerned with a wide range of automotive, motoring and mobility issues.

ICT in vehicles represents significant value-added safety, comfort and mobility for consumers. Predictions for the size of the market run into billions of dollars. There is universal agreement that standardization and coordination between vehicle manufacturing, standards organizations and ICT industries is crucial to the development of new technologies.

ITU works with leading ICT and auto players

ITU's current work in the field focuses on specifications that will enhance communications in vehicles specifically the development of requirements and testing methodologies for wideband communications.

The Fully Networked Car brings ITU experts together with specialists ranging from top decision-makers to engineers, designers, planners, government officials, regulators, standards experts and analysts. The workshop programme features speakers from some of the biggest names in the ICT and automotive industries. The panel of high-level global experts that will frame the major issues and engage the audience on the important role of ICT in the greening of the automobile come from leading companies such as BMW, Connexis, Fiat, Ford, Freescale Semiconductor, Honda, Intel, Motorola, Oracle, Telefónica, Telcordia, Toyota-InfoTechnology Center, T-Systems, Volvo and Wavecom.

Among other topics to be discussed are radio spectrum used for car-to-car and car-to-infrastructure communications; the convergence of telematics and infotainment; safety-related systems and manufacturing standards.

WorldDMB - Commitment from industry on the future of DAB in the UK - February 11, 2008

In a statement today GCAP Media plc outlined its future plans for digital radio in the UK.  Fru Hazlitt, the new Chief Executive of the company, announced a strategy to cut £8.8 million of annual costs in an effort to prevent a take over from Global Media.  Digital One will now be solely owned by Arqiva, the provider of its transmission network.

“The Board of GCap Media believes that DAB, with its current cost structure and infrastructure, is not an economically viable growth platform for GCap Media”.  This is largely based on the fact that the cost of new DAB infrastructure during GCap’s initial implementation in the 1990s was more expensive than the roll out costs of a new network today, which have since been drastically reduced.  However, no DAB transmitters are being switched off and there will not be a reduction in coverage.  Local DAB licenses continue to be advertised and Channel 4 remain committed to the launch of the second commercial multiplex. 

This announcement comes after a record quarter for DAB digital radio in the UK, where over 10% of listening was done via DAB accounting for more than 100 million hours.  The medium has seen incredible growth throughout the years. As with many platforms it takes time to generate profit and the road to success may seem long for some. 

Arqiva, broadcast and wireless infrastructure provider, owns most of the DAB networks in the UK and has continued to maintain its dedication to the future of digital radio in the country. “Arqiva has played a major role in developing and supporting the DAB platform over the years, and we're continuing to invest in digital radio infrastructure.  We can confirm that we have agreed in principle to acquire GCap's interest in the Digital One multiplex. As an independent operator we believe we can maximise the potential of the Digital One multiplex.  DAB receiver sales have never been better and we have every confidence in the long-term future of digital radio". 

Nathalie Schwarz, Chairman of 4Digital Radio, says, “4 Digital Group is committed to launching a second national commercial digital multiplex,” adding “ We are confident about the future of DAB radio as the linchpin for radio’s digital future and plan to meet the diverse tastes and interests of its growing audience by offering more choice and exploiting its full potential with fresh and imaginative programmes and services”. 

WorldDMB members from across the world including Australia, UK, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, South Korea and Switzerland believe that the DAB based standards offer the best platform for the future of digital radio.  Rollouts across the globe have seen DAB/DMB receiver figures surpass the 15 million mark.  Commitments from not only broadcasters, but receiver and car manufacturers as well as regulators reinforce that DAB based technologies will prevail as the standard of choice for the future of digital radio. 

Colin Crawford, Director of Marketing Pure Digital, the leading DAB manufacturer reconfirms its commitment to DAB based technology, “The ongoing migration to digital is a macro trend that will continue. PURE Digital continues to focus on the long-term growth and success of DAB digital radio, and while we regret the announcement today, we look upon it as a minor exception to overall industry take-up which will not affect our on-going commitment to development of the digital platform”.  Anthony Sethill, CEO of Frontier Silicon, the chip and technology supplier for DAB receivers commented “2007 was a great year for DAB.  Frontier sales were up 40% on 2006 and totalled 2.2 million units. With the roll out of the new DAB+ standard, additional services from 4Digital Radio in the UK and the launch of DAB+ in Australia we are confident the next two years will deliver continued growth for the DAB family of standards around the world”.

Digital Radio receivers continue to penetrate the market, offering consumers a familiar medium, which can be enjoyed on the move as well as in the home.  Variety and choice coupled with increased functionality such as downloads on demand, colour screens, slide-show, ‘plug ins’ to the popular iPod as well as in car adaptors are pushing the receiver market forward.  There are currently over 321 different types of DAB digital radios in the UK, allowing listeners an unprecedented offering and enticing more than 1 million to purchase a DAB device in Quarter 4 2007 alone.

Previous News From You

Week ending February 9, 2008

Week ending January 26, 2008