Despite success in countries like Japan, Korea and Italy, which began broadcasting mobile digital TV as early as 2005, the technology has yet to take off worldwide.

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It said customers in Italy and Spain had been reducing their spending on mobile phone tariffs because of economic weakness in those countries.

BBC: Vodafone writes down value of Italy and Spain units

Italy and France are obvious examples of European markets where mobile growth numbers may disappoint sharply in 2013 if the ongoing consumer malaise persists.

FORBES: Spain Loses 5% of Mobile Subscriber Base in 2012: Warning for Europe

Britain is setting the pace in creating mobile, battle-ready forces, while Italy's army is still dominated by conscripts who use the experience to learn proper Italian (and to escape their families) but are not exactly bursting to fight in foreign wars.

ECONOMIST: Italian brothers in arms

Despite a few early glitches, Italy has now become one of the most advanced markets for mobile TV.

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Service revenues for the last three months of 2012 were down 2.6%, the mobile operator said, with the steepest declines seen in Spain and Italy.

BBC: Vodafone's Europe revenues see steep falls

During the 2006 World Cup, Italy spearheaded a similar campaign, ramping up coverage and rolling out new video phones to showcase the European mobile TV standard, DVB-H.

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