( 1 December 2005 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: South Korea continues to lead the way on the mobile TV highway. It was in May that the Asian powerhouse launched a satellite-based digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) service for the first time in the world. Today saw another world first with the launch of terrestrial DMB services in capital Seoul and its vicinity areas.

A news release issued by the South Korean Ministry of Information and Communication (MOIC) states that the terrestrial DMB service will be extended to the whole country within the next year.

The service which was launched by South Korea's four major local broadcasting companies, MBC, SBS, KBS and YTN, and two smaller start-ups -- U1 Media and Korea DMB -- is free and features seven video, 13 audio and eight data channels. It can also be used on laptops and navigation systems with DMB capabilities.

Government officials hope South Korea will lead the global DMB market, which is forcast to grow to $ 35.5 billion by 2010.