MCAST: Multicasting service trial on 2.5G and 3G cellular networks

• Unité de recherche: PCRD EU
• Numéro de projet: 01.0582-1
• Titre du projet anglais: MCAST: Multicasting service trial on 2.5G and 3G cellular networks

Mots-clé (Anglais)

Policies; Legislation; Regulations; Information Processing; Information Systems; Electronics; Microelectronics

Autre Numéro de projet (Anglais)

EU project number: IST-2001-36504

Programme de recherche (Anglais)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.2.4 Essential technologies and infrastructures

Description succincte (Anglais)

See abstract

Autres indications (Anglais)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Universität St. Gallen
Institut für Medien- und Kommunikationsmanagement

Résumé des résultats (Abstract) (Anglais)

MCAST's multicasting technology enables cellular operators to use shared channel resources for broadcasting video, audio, and data over 2.5G and 3G networks. This will permit cellular operators to overcome the limited bandwidth available on 2.5 G (GPRS) networks for providing rich media content to large numbers of users simultaneously. MCAST will provide seamless service roaming to WLAN networks as well. Thus, MCAST will support cellular operators to establish an affordable flat fee service for end-users and increase operators' revenues per channel resource. This will allow economic delivery of media to an unlimited number of mobile cellular and WLAN devices and insure a service widely appreciated by European users.

OBJECTIVES
Furthermore the objective of the MCAST project is to understand user needs regarding broadband multicast streaming services over 2.5 G, 3G and WLAN networks to mobile devices and perform according market analysis in order to develop viable business models for the involved players.
To achieve these objectives a pilot lab test and two large-scale field trials will be conducted in Israel and Switzerland. The trials will demonstrate and exploit the innovative aspects of multicasting in mobile networks. These tests will especially be used to adapt the service according to user needs and validate the outcome. Based on these results business models will be derived for the players content provider, network operator, technology provider, and advertising parties. The results of this analysis will be disseminated widely within the European community.


DESCRIPTION OF WORK
Cellular network operators in Israel and Switzerland will define areas for the field trials and - in a later stage of the project - are planning to extend the trials to a pan-European level together with telecommunication companies in Germany and France. By this means the project will emphasise the ability to easily extend the service into other European locations where users roaming into visited networks can use them. The international broadcaster of Germany, Deutsche Welle, will provide the rich media content. The University of St. Gallen will lead user needs analysis and intensive dissemination and exploitation of the activities.

Foreseen workpackages:
WP1 User requirements;
WP2 Lab test and pilot field test;
WP3 User field Test GPRS;
WP4 User Field Test in Switzerland - GPRS and WLAN;
WP5 User Roaming Test Israel, Switzerland, Germany;
WP6 Dissemination and Exploitation;
WP7 Project Management.

Références bases de données (Anglais)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 01.0582-1