Vimpelcom calls time on DVB-H

Vimpelcom has sold its 75% stake in DVB-H technology company Dominant.

The Russian telco sold its stake to businessman Yevgeny Roitman, who already owned 25% of the company. Roitman is planning to transform the company from a DVB-H specialist into a DVB-T2 outfit. The value of the deal is unknown but thought to run into millions of US dollars.

Vimpelcom acquired its stake in Dominant for US$10.5 million (€8 millon) in 2007. It launched a DVB-H network in 2009, investing up to US$15 million in the project. However, the technology has proved unpopular in Russia and even Vimpelcom failed to launch DVB-H services via its Beeline TV brand.