First mobile TV network by mid-2006: Nokia

BARCELONA: Mobile phone giant Nokia expects the first mobile television networks to be up and running by the middle of next year, or perhaps even earlier.

"I personally expect that by mid-year 2006 we are going to see the first ... networks launch their service. This is, of course, speculative because there are certain regulatory elements as well," Nokia's Multimedia general manager Anssi Vanjoki told a conference on Wednesday.

"As the technology is mature, once those pieces of the puzzle are in place, the take-up and introduction of the service can be very fast," he said, referring to a matter of a "few weeks".

"As it stands right now, it is likely that around mid-year, it could be a little bit earlier for these networks to come out," Vanjoki said.

Switzerland, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany and Russia are likely to be among the first countries to set up such networks, he said.

Nokia earlier launched the N92, a handset able to pick up broadcasts direct from TV masts rather than through mobile operators.

It is expected to be available to consumers next year.