20 June 2008

Wireless HDTV Next On The Home Agenda

Wireless HDTV (high-definition Television)  is next on the home agenda, however the market is still at its ‘incubation’ stage, according to a report.

There are both commercial applications , including digital signage, for example, and domestic applications such as wall-mounting a flat-screen HDTV

Market research company ABI Research estimates that fewer than 100,000 devices will ship this year, but forecasts that wireless HDTV could hit on million installations worldwide.

Meanwhile, a battle for the winning technology is being slugged out. There are three contending systems, loosely characterized as: 5 GHz, 60 GHz, and ultra wideband (UWB).

“5 GHz technology is better understood and more proven,” explained principal analyst at ABI Research, Steve Wilson “But achieving the required data rates requires new approaches and more complex solutions. UWB technology has bandwidth advantages at in-room distances but drops rapidly at greater ranges. 60 GHz allows high data rates, but so far only one company is even close to a viable solution.”

Small numbers of 5 GHz and UWB devices are currently shipping; demo products of 60 GHz systems are expected early next year.