p02-4,6-7 IPTV@IBC08 Overview v4 25/7/08 12:12 Page 4
IPTV@IBC08 > Overview Cable & Satellite Europe
nities are coming to us.” He says a large number of telcos
are looking into the RF overlay idea.
Hybrid model
The ability to handle DVB broadcast content is increas-
ingly seen as a key part of the spec for IPTV boxes.
“Within Europe we see strong demand for a hybrid
model and just doing VOD through the IP connection,”
says Rory Betteridge, product manager at set-top provider
Amino Communications (IBC Stand 5.B40). The need to
offer HDTV makes it hard for DSL networks to compete
without hybrid assistance to deal with some of the heavy
lifting. Amino, which has focused on the ‘pure’ IPTV
market to date, is currently developing its first hybrid
product, initially focusing on a combination of IPTV with
DVB-T. “In terms of volume, hybrid will account for a sig-
nificant percentage,” says Betteridge. “If you look outside
Europe it’s not quite so strong, but it’s there.”
ADB’s Doganowski agrees that the hybrid model will
Fastweb, like other niques will provide greater quality over the internet. be very strong in Europe. “We have only one customer at
IPTV service IPTV is characterised by a wide variety of business the moment that’s not hybrid,” he says. While the major-
providers, has focused models, with cable and DTH players also getting in on the ity of operators are IPTV players looking to take advantage
on delivering a high- act. “There has always been a weak spot in the DTH of the availability of free-to-air DVB-T, some cable and
quality TV experience. armoury,” says David Gillies, chief technologist at set-top satellite-based operators are also looking to hybrid solu-
manufacturer Pace (IBC Stand 1.B21). “They have lots of tions to deliver on-demand video and other services via IP.
bandwidth they can use but not always a return channel Betteridge says that MPEG-2 single-stream boxes still
link. It’s difficult for them to offer VOD or interactive serv- account for up to 70% of Amino’s sales, reflecting
ices.” Gillies says that Pace has taken steps to enable many demand from established networks and players in emerg-
of its DTH set-tops to be able to receive IP-based content ing markets such as central Europe.
via an Ethernet connection. With regard to pure IPTV, the growing scale of leading
Similarly, cable operators can use IP to deliver a wider operators has led to consolidation in the middleware busi-
range of services. Cable operators’ defence in the coming ness, with Microsoft (IBC Topaz) and Alcatel-Lucent
bandwidth battle is DOCSIS 3.0 and its sibling technolo- emerging as the frontrunners. Pace provides products for
gy M-CMTS. The use of DOCSIS 3.0 to deliver video serv- Microsoft Mediaroom and Alcatel-Lucent MyView. BT
ices over IP is clearly something many cable operators are Vision and Telefónica are among the company’s cus-
interested in. “The problem is that in the US the cable tomers. “The IPTV operators are keeping track with the
operators have a huge legacy of set-tops that required a evolution of services in the broadcast arena,” says Pace’s
massive investment, so it’s going to be a while before they Gillies, pointing to the launch of HDTV services by IPTV
move to IPTV,” says Greg Riker, vice-president, regional operators in France as an example. Gillies says that con-
sales at technology group Arris (IBC stand 1.F44). solidation of middleware provides some benefits. “With a
“However, I think they are looking at it to reclaim band- common platform the cost of maintaining it goes down.
width and offer interactive services. They are looking at Features can be focused on one platform as opposed to
bringing web content to the TV.” developing on two,” he says.
Telcos can also use a mix of technologies, resulting in Andreas Mueller-Schubert, general manager, global
many different flavours of IPTV. The hybrid model solutions, Microsoft Mediaroom, says that the group’s
deployed by Verizon in the US involves the use of RF tech- IPTV customers are seeing strong growth. He highlights
nology in order for the operator to leverage the availabili- BT Vision as an an operator that has succeeded in driving
ty of cable set-top boxes. “We think cable RF can be used up use of its service. Mueller-Schubert says that in gener-
on FTTH networks,” says Alain Michelet, senior engineer al the usage rates for video-on-demand amongst
at cable Edge QAM specialist Vecima Networks (IBC Mediaroom customers are better than anyone had antici-
Stand 1.F84), which supplies modules that are used in the pated. Mueller-Schubert argues that the success of servic-
Verizon deployment. “The interesting thing is that what es depends to some extent on how well assets are posi-
we have done for cable can be reused in the telco space,” tioned and also on how quickly new assets can be ingest-
says Michelet. “System integrators with FTTH opportu- ed into the system.
searchable archive at www.informamedia.com
4
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40