Agis, BNS and Toshiba form partnership to launch a broadcast mobile TV service in Indonesia

[JAKARTA, 17 July 2007] Indonesia’s leading electronics company PT Agis Tbk, IPTV and mobile TV systems integrator BNS and mobile TV pioneer Toshiba have announced a partnership to jointly build a broadcast-based, nationwide mobile TV network in Indonesia.

Operated by Agis, the service will be the first DMB based Mobile TV service outside Japan and Korea, where the technology was pioneered and successfully launched in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Invented by Toshiba in 1996, DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) is an ITU adopted standard and the most mature mobile TV technology available today with over 2 million subscribers and extensive handset and device support.

Unlike cellular based 3G streaming, DMB does not require extensive telco infrastructure and can scale as easily as a TV broadcast. And unlike other mobile TV technologies based on precious UHF frequencies, DMB can be operated on many nationwide or region-wide frequencies currently vacant and assigned by the ITU for DMB. This means DMB can cover Indonesia’s over 200 regions with one frequency, allowing subscribers to watch the same programs anywhere in the country, and in the future, throughout the Asia Pacific region.

“With a youthful population and low but fast growing mobile penetration, Indonesia is the perfect market for a broadcast-based mobile TV service,” said Ms Anna Maria, Senior Officer at Agis, Indonesia’s leading electronics distributor and retailer who will operate the service. Agis will import and distribute these new mobile handsets and devices throughout the country. “Our service will combine best-of-breed technology, compelling content and a large handset selection that will make it an instant hit with mobile users all over the country,” she said.

“DMB has been exceptionally successful as a mobile TV technology in Japan and Korea and we are excited to be part of the first service launch outside these two countries,” said Mr Masashi Suenaga, General Manager of DMB Business Development at Toshiba Corp, who will supply major head-end and transmission equipment, management software, and provide technical and operating expertise.

“Frequency for DMB is assigned regionally which provides efficient spectrum usage and is a major advantage over other technologies which require UHF frequencies,” said Mr Jeffrey Soong, CEO of systems integrator BNS (Broadband Network Systems, Ltd.). “It makes this technology ideal for a vast country like Indonesia and we’re excited to follow our recent IPTV and mobile TV projects in the region with this exciting project”.

In preparation for the service launch early next year, Agis is in discussions with potential partners such as mobile operators, content owners and others to discuss collaboration opportunities.

Other details of the service such as the service name, launch date, subscription details, device cost and content line up will be announced at a later stage.

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About Agis
Established in 1981 and publicly listed since 1995, Agis has over 1,000 employees and 15 subsidiary companies. Agis’ core business is consumer electronic distribution with over 600 dealers nationwide, 20 megastores and a network of over 25 service-chains in Indonesia. Agis recently partnered with M2B World Asia Pacific (based in Singapore) to provide IP-TV and Online Gaming services in Indonesia.


About BNS
Headquartered in Hong Kong, BNS provides IPTV-based content and technology solutions for broadband service providers and enterprises interested in maximizing their potential with IP-based solutions, such as Telco TV, Internet TV, MDU IPTV, Mobile TV and Enterprise A/V. The company has extensive hands-on experience in all facets of design, implementation and management of broadband networks in Asia and is the preeminent specialist on content across all platforms in the region. www.bnsltd.com

About Toshiba
Toshiba, a world leader in high technology, is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and materials, power systems, industrial and social infrastructure systems, and household appliances.
Under its mid term business plan, Toshiba is working for enhanced recognition as a highly profitable group of companies, active in both high growth and stable growth businesses.

For media enquiries, pls contact:

Anke Gill
Director of Marketing
BNS Ltd
Ph: +852 90318036
Email: agill@bnsltd.com

Purnomo Adjie
Corporate Secretary
Agis Group
Ph: +62 21 3983 6699
Fax: +62 21 3983 6698