Dublin-based Solaris Mobile has gained “admissible candidate” status by the European Commission in the company’s effort to become a mobile satellite services provider in Europe.

 

In order to gain certification as a European satellite services provider, Solaris Mobile must pass a two-stage application process.

 

Solaris Mobile delivers Europe’s first satellite-based service created to provide video, radio, data and two-way communications to mobile devices - such as phones, PDAs and portable media players - as well as a variety of interactive services for commercial and public applications.

 

In October, the company was one of four to submit an application to the European Commission to launch S-Band Spectrum (News - Alert) mobile satellite services. The companies requested to rollout these services under one European selection procedure instead of under 27 different national systems. Once admissible candidate status is obtained, the strength of Solaris Mobile’s application will be apparent.

 

Solaris Mobile is set to roll-out an advanced satellite next Spring and is the only candidate operator that will meet European Commission expectations that cross border Mobile TV services are likely to start in 2009.

 

The company will be a position to offer mobile satellite services that drive current and next-generation mobile hybrid networks and further the provision of ground-breaking services to European consumers.

 

With help from key industrial partners and media players, Solaris Mobile is trying to develop a harmonized ecosystem to optimize the delivery of mobile TV services, and broadband. The company also announced that it welcomes the recently published European Commission Guidelines for the provision of mobile TV services in EU countries.

 

Steve Maine, chief executive officer, Solaris Mobile, said that his company is excited about the publication of similar guidelines for mobile satellite services.

 

“We would especially support the commitment of the European Commission to award procedure guidelines that are public, transparent and defined in advance, as well as the aspiration that full interoperability and EU-wide mobile TV roaming will be important considerations for mobile TV service providers,” explained Maine.

 

“The European Commission has also recognised that speed in service delivery will be key for global competitiveness, and therefore we are also in favour of the recommendation that frequencies made available for Mobile TV should be withdrawn if the service has not started within a reasonable time. With a focus on clear guidelines and light regulation, the European Commission is clearly supportive of the rapid roll out of mobile TV across Europe, and this is good news for companies such as Solaris Mobile, ” he added.

 

Solaris Mobile, a Eutelsat and SES (News - Alert) Astra joint venture, was established earlier this year to develop next-generation mobile TV services via satellite. The company’s corporate headquarters in Dublin officially opened in June 2008. Solaris Mobile plans to provide TV, video and radio plus two-way communication to a variety of handheld and vehicle-mounted mobile devices. Scheduled for launch in early 2009, Solaris Mobile’s range of services is aimed primarily at broadcasters, telco operators, the automotive industry, and data and communication providers.

 

The company hopes to operate in a 2.00 GHz frequency band, the S-band, reserved for the exclusive use of satellite and terrestrial mobile services. The S-band works alongside UMTS frequencies that are already used across Europe for 3G terrestrial services.