ITU Approves Standard on Interactive TV

ITU Opens Up World for Interactive TV Providers. The International Telecommunication Union announces the approval of a new standard that allows content providers to roll out value-added interactive TV (iTV) services to any network without modification. The standard (Recommendation ITU-T J.202) defines the interfaces that designers use to produce content (Application Programming Interfaces — API) and gives guidelines for their use. It has the backing of the broadcast industry as well as key manufacturers of TV equipment and set-top boxes. ITU-T J.202 consolidates the work of other standards makers illustrating ITU-T’s position as the pre-eminent body for coordination of Information Communication Technology (ICT) standards. J.202 was standardized in ITU-T Study Group 9. The standard consolidates efforts from the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB), Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB), Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), and Open Cable Applications Platform (OCAP).

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WIMAX Forum

The purpose of the WiMAX Forum is to promote deployment of broadband wireless access networks by using a global standard and certifying interoperability of products and technologies. This includes:

• Support IEEE 802.16 standard
• Propose and promote access profiles for ther IEEE 802.16 standard
• Certify interoperability levels both in network and the cell
• Achieve global acceptance
• Promote use of broadband wireless access overall

Also see this related article at 802.11 Planet.

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Hong Kong's Broadband Portals

Hong Kong, China has the second highest broadband penetration in the world as described in this ITU report (PDF). Hong Kong's two main broadband portals (www.now.com.hk and www.i-cable.com) allow you to purchase and stream movies online.

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Daum: Korea's Top Web Portal

The Republic of Korea has the highest broadband penetration in the world (see page 6 of this recent report issued by ITU (PDF)). The corresponding ITU country case study discusses Daum, Korea’s top portal web site. Some 90 per cent of all Korean Internet users log onto Daum. Around 450 million pages of Daum’s content is viewed on an average day ranking it as one of the top Intenet portals in both pages per user and session time in the world.

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Article on Ubiquitous Networks

News.com has an article on pervasive/ubiquitous networks. Thanks to Rajesh Jain's weblog for the pointer.

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