October 5, 2005

Verizon Wireless is expected to launch a streaming television service early in 2006, using a network being deployed by tower company Crown Castle International Corp.

Verizon Wireless currently offers a streaming TV service through its CDMA2000 1x EV-DO powered Vcast service that provides continually updated video clips to select handsets.

Zachary Research analyst Patrick Comack noted in a research report that the Crown Castle-powered service is set to launch during the first quarter of next year.

The service will use Crown Castle's digital video broadcast-handheld television service, which Crown Castle told RCR Wireless News earlier this year it planned to offer in between 20 markets and 30 markets by the end of 2007.

According to the Zachary Research report, the network reportedly will use a 5-megahertz spectrum block in the 1.6 GHz spectrum band and offer live video streaming at up to 20 frames per second.

Crown Castle said it planned to offer up to 16 channels of video and 30 channels of audio on the network that will use the company's tower backbone.

Verizon Wireless did not return calls for comment.

Source: RCR News