The development of mobile broadcasting TV: A socio-technical comparison of Singapore and Taiwan

Abstract

Among studies on emerging mobile broadcasting TV, theories for cross-country comparisons have seldom been applied. This paper investigates market trials of mobile broadcasting TV in Singapore and Taiwan. It uses a socio-technical perspective to examine complex relations between the co-evolving subsystems of industry/market, policy, and technology. This paper advances the understanding of how this mobile technology will evolve by interviewing key stakeholders in industry players and regulators. After Taiwan announced its mobile TV policy in December 2009, Singapore has remained indecisive. The findings show that Singapore is likely to choose the DVB-H standard and adopt the subscription model, while Taiwan will adopt DVB-H and MediaFLO and apply a hybrid model. Industry pull is found to be the driving force in developing mobile broadcasting TV, while policy delays this technology-ready mobile service. The cultural factor is considered as the underlying shaping power of the three subsystems and subtly affects technological development.