Internet Protocol television, iptv

 

Internet Protocol TV ( IPTV ) allows television content to be delivered over Internet Protocol network (IP). This is in contrast with traditional terrestrial and satellite TV formats. IPTV allows you to stream the source media without interruption, unlike downloaded media. A client media player can play the content (such a TV channel) almost instantly. This is streaming media.

IPTV is an Internet protocol. It can be streamed from Internet ( Internet TV). The vast majority of IPTV installations are in subscriber-based telecommunications networks that provide high-speed access channels to end-user premises via set top boxes and other customer premises equipment. IPTV can also be used to deliver media around private and corporate networks. IPTV is a prominent player in the telecommunications industry.

live TV and media with or without interactivity may be classified as IPTV services. Time Shifting of media e.g. catch up TV that replays a show that was broadcast several hours ago, start-over TV which replays the show from its beginning, and Video on Demand (VOD), which allows you to browse and view items in a media catalog.

IPTV Definition

There have been many definitions of IPTV over the years, including elementary streams over IP network, MPEG transport stream over IP network, and several proprietary systems. The International Telecommunication Union focus team on IPTV has approved one official definition:

IPTV is defined as multimedia services such as television/video/audio/text/graphics/data delivered over IP based networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and experience, security, interactivity and reliability.

Another definition of IPTV that relates to the telecommunications sector is the one provided by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions in 2005:

IPTV refers to the safe and reliable delivery of entertainment video and related services to subscribers. These services can include Live TV, Video On Demand, and Interactive TV. These services are delivered over a packet switched network, which is access-agnostic and uses the IP protocol to transport audio, video, and control signals. IPTV deployments are more secure than video over the Internet. This creates a favorable business environment for advertisers, content providers and customers.

IPTV History

It was impossible to squeeze a television program into the limited bandwidth of a copper telephone line in order to offer a video-on demand (VOD) service. This was because the bandwidth required for a digital TV signal was approximately 200 Mbps. This was more than twice the bandwidth required for a speech signal over copper telephone wire. VOD services were only made possible as a result of two major technological developments: motion-compensated DCT video compression and asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) data transmission.Motion-compensated DCT algorithms for video coding standards include the H.26x formats from 1988 onwards and the MPEG formats from 1991 onwards.

Motion-compensated DCT video compression significantly reduced the amount of bandwidth required for a television signal, while at the same time ADSL increased the bandwidth of data that could be sent over a copper telephone wire. ADSL increases the bandwidth of a telephone line, from 100 kbps up to 2Mbps. DCT compression reduces the bandwidth required for a digital TV signal from approximately 200 Mbps to around 2Mbps. DCT and ADSL technologies combined made it possible to implement VOD services at approximately 2 Mbps bandwidth in 1990s.

The term IPTV first appeared in 1995 with the founding of Precept Software by Judith Estrin and title=”William N. Carrico Jr.”>Bill Carrico. Precept created IP/TV, an Internet video product. IP/TV was a Unix and Windows compatible application that sent single- and multi-source audio and videos. It used both unicast (and IP multicast) Real-time Transport Protocols (RTP and Real-time control protocol (RTCP). Cha Chee Kuan, Karl Auerbach and Steve Casner wrote the software. Precept was purchased by Cisco Systems in 1998. Cisco still retains the IP/TV trademark.

In 1998, US West, a telecommunications company, launched TeleChoice, an IPTV service in Phoenix, Arizona. It used VDSL technology and was the first company to offer digital television over telephone lines in the United States.

AudioNet, an Internet radio company, started the first continuous webcasts featuring content from WFAA TV in January 1998 and KCTU -LP on January 10, 1998.

Kingston Communications is a UK regional telecommunications operator. In September 1999, Kingston Interactive Television (KIT) was launched. It offers IPTV over Digital Subscriber Line (DSL). In October 2001, the operator launched a new VoD service with Yes TV. This provider provides VoD content. Kingston was the first company to offer IPTV and IP Voice over ADSL commercial services. This service was the basis for many changes in UK Government regulations and policies on IPTV. The KIT service was terminated in 2006 after subscribers declined from 10,000 to 4,000.

NBTel, now known as Bell Aliant, was the first company to commercially offer Internet protocol TV over DSL in Canada. It used the Alcatel 7350 DSLAM with middleware developed by iMagic TV (owned and controlled by Bruncor). VibeVision was the name of the service in New Brunswick. The service was later extended to Nova Scotia by NBTel’s parent company Bruncor in 2000. iMagic TV later went to Alcatel.

Sasktel became the second Canada company to commercially implement IPTV over DSL in 2002. It used the Lucent Stinger DSL platform.

SureWest Communications, the first North American company to offer high definition television (HDTV) channels via an IPTV service in 2005.

Bredbandsbolaget was the first provider of IPTV services in Sweden. They are no longer the largest provider. TeliaSonera launched their service in January 2009.

TPG was the first Australian internet service provider to launch IPTV in 2007.

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited launched IPTV in 2008 under the brand PTCLSmart TV. The service is available in 150 cities and offers 140 live channels.

After acquiring EMBARQ (2009), Qwest (2011), CenturyLink entered five U.S. market with an IPTV service called Prism. This was following successful marketing in Florida.

Vivo in Brazil has offered Vivo TV Fibra since 2012 (at least). (4Q 2020 data). Oi also offers IPTV as part of its FTTH service, “Oi Fibra” since at least 2018. Several regional FTTH providers offer IPTV in addition to FTTH internet services.

In 2016, Korean Central Television introduced the set top box, called Manbang. This device reportedly provides video-on-demand in North Korea via quasi Internet protocol television (IPTV). Manbang lets viewers watch five TV channels live and provide information about the Supreme leader and Juche ideology. They can also read articles from state-run news agencies.

IPTV Markets & Residential

Global IPTV revenues are expected to rise from 28 million subscribers in 2009, when they generated US$12 billion in revenue, to 83 million in 2013 and US$38 billion in 2013. Asia and Europe are the top territories for subscribers. However, North America and Europe are the top two territories in terms of service revenue. This is due to the very low average revenue per use (ARPU), in India and China, which are the fastest growing and ultimately the largest markets.

Also launched services in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Claro launched their own IPTV service, called “ClaroTV”. The service is available in many countries, including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The growth of IPTV in Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Latin America is only beginning. It is also growing in South Asian countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, and Nepal. But there are significant plans for countries such Russia. Kazakhstan launched its IPTV services in 2009 by Kazakhtelecom JSC and content integrator Alacast. It is now set to go national starting in 2010.

India was the first country to launch IPTV. It was launched in MTNL and BSNL. APSFL, another IPTV provider in the State of Andhra Pradesh.

Nepal was the first to launch IPTV. The service was launched by NEW IT Venture CORPORATION as TV Nepal. It can be accessed via its app, webapp and Set top boxes provided locally by ISPs. In 2016, another IPTV, WOW Time, was created by Nepal Telecom. This can be accessed through their app.

Sri Lanka launched IPTV in 2008 by Sri Lanka Telecom (operated under the brand PO TV). This service is available throughout the country. Dialog TV is available through this service since 2018.

Pakistan launched IPTV in 2008 under the brand Smart TV. This service is available to all 150 major cities in the country.

Philippines offers Cignal IPTV as an add-on to certain ADSL or fiber optic plans.

Since 2005, many companies in Malaysia have tried to launch IPTV services. The failed PayTV provider MiTV tried to launch an IPTV-over UHF service, but it was unsuccessful. HyppTV was supposed use an IPTV-based service, but it is not true IPTV because it doesn’t provide a set top box and requires users view channels via a computer. FineTV and DeTV are the only true IPTV providers in the country.

Telekom Malaysia launched IPTV services in Q2 2010. They used their fiber to the home product unifi to launch IPTV services in selected areas. Astro started testing IPTV services using TIME dotCom Berhad’s high-speed fiber to the home optic fibre network. In December 2010, Astro began testing with customers in high-rise condominiums around Mont Kiara.

Astro launched its IPTV services in April 2011. It was a triple play offering with TIME dotCom Berhad. This service provides all Astro programming via IPTV. Voice telephone services are also available and broadband Internet access is provided through the same fiber optic connection to the customer’s house. Astro’s 2020 launch of “Plug and Play” used Unicast technology to stream TV.

Turkey launched IPTV services in 2010 under the name IPtivibu. It was initially available in pilot areas of Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara. In 2011, IPTV service was launched commercially in large numbers under the trademark “Tivibu EV”. Superonline plans to offer IPTV under the new name “WebTV” beginning in 2011. Turk Telekom began construction of the fiber optic substructure for IPTV late 2007.

IPTV Commercial and corporate

Since 2002 IPTV has been used extensively to distribute television and multimedia (AV), media around commercial sites and businesses, either as live TV channels (VOD) or video-on-demand (VOD). Airports, schools and offices are just some examples of commercial users.

IPTV Elements

IPTV head-end: Where live TV channels and AV source are encoded and encrypted and delivered as IP multicast streaming.

Video on Demand (VOD platform): Where on-demand video assets can be stored and served as IP unicast streaming streams when a user requests them. Sometimes, the VOD platform can be found with or considered to be part of the IPTV headend.

Interactive portal: Allows the user to navigate between the various IPTV services such as the VOD catalog.

The packet-switched network used to transport IP packets (unicast or multicast) is called the delivery network.

Endpoints are equipment that allows the user to request, decode, and deliver IPTV streams. This includes computers, mobile devices, and set top boxes.

Home TV Gateway is the equipment in a residential IPTV user’s home that terminates an access link to the delivery network.

User set top box is the piece of equipment that decodes and encrypts TV and VOD streams to display on the TV screen.

Architecture of a video server network

There are two types of video server architectures that can be used for IPTV deployment, depending on the network architecture of your service provider: centralised or distributed.

The centralised architecture model makes it simple and straightforward to manage. It does not require an extensive content distribution system because all media content is stored in centralised servers. A centralised architecture is good for networks that offer a limited number of VOD services, have adequate bandwidth at the core and edges, or have an efficient content distribution network (CDN).

Distributed architectures offer bandwidth benefits and system management features that are crucial for managing larger servers networks. To ensure efficient delivery of multimedia content over the network service provider’s network, distributed architecture requires sophisticated and intelligent content distribution technologies.

Residential IPTV home networks

The residential gateway which provides connectivity with the Internet acces network in many cases is not close to the IPTV set top box. This is becoming more common as service providers offer multiple set-top boxes per subscriber.

These technologies use existing home wiring (such a power line, telephone line, or coaxial cable) and wireless hardware to solve the problem. However, fragmentation in the wired home network market has limited its growth.

ITU–T adopted December 2008 Recommendation Hn. Also known as G.9960, this next-generation home network standard specifies a common PHY/MAC which can be used over any home wiring (power lines or coaxial cables).

Groups like the Multimedia Over Coax Alliance and HomePlug Powerline Alliance each support their respective technologies.

IPTV Telecomms IMS architecture

A growing standardization effort is underway for the 3GPP IPMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), as an architecture to support IPTV services within telecommunications carrier network. ETSI and ITU-T are both working on “IMS-based IPTV standards” (see e.g. ETSI TS 182 027. The core infrastructure will allow carriers to offer voice and IPTV services. This will also enable the creation of services that combine traditional TV services with telephony features, such as. It will be easy to display caller ID on your TV screen.

IPTV Protocols

IPTV supports both real TV and video on-demand. You will need a device that can connect to either a fixed or wireless network. This could be a personal computer, smartphone or tablet with touch screen, game console, set-top box, or standalone PC. Video compresses content and audio codescs then it is encapsulated using MPEG transport stream, Realtime Transport Protocol, or other packets. IP multicasting allows live data to be transmitted to multiple recipients using one multicast address.

The primary protocols that are used in standards-based IPTV systems are:

Service-provider-based streaming:

IGMP to subscribe to a live multicast stream or change from one multicast stream to the next (TV channel switch). IP multicast works within LANs, including VLANs, and across WANs. On-demand content is delivered over a negotiated unicast link. Realtime Transport Protocol over User Datagram Protocol(UDP) or the lower overhead H.222 stream over Transmission Control Protocol_ (TCP), are the most preferred methods of encapsulation.

Web -based unicast Only live streaming and VoD streaming available:

Adobe Flash Player prefers RTMP to TCP when it comes to setup and control via AMF, XML, or JSON transactions.

Apple iOS uses adaptive Bitrate streaming over . Setup and control are done via embedded M3U playlist files.

Microsoft Silverlight uses smooth streaming (adaptive bitrate streaming) over HTTP.

Multicast streaming via the internet:

The Internet Engineering Task Force recommends RTP instead of UDP or TCP Transports. Setup and control can be done using RTSP rather than TCP.

Connected TVs , Game consoles , Set-top boxes And Personal video recorders for network networks :

UPnP and AV are used for local network content. Unicast can be accessed via HTTP over TCP, or multicast live RTP using UDP.

Web-based content can be provided via either inline Web plugs-ins, or a television broadcast-based app that uses a Middleware language like MHEG-5. This triggers an event, such as loading an inline Web Browser using an Adobe Flash Player plugin.

Local IPTV is used by businesses to distribute audiovisual AV on their company networks. It typically uses a combination of:

Both conventional TV receiver equipment and IPTV encoders

TV Gateways receive live Digital Video Broadcasting(DVB) MPEG Transport streams (channels), and convert them to IP streams

IPTV Via satellite

While IPTV and traditional satellite TV distribution are complementary technologies, they will likely be used more frequently together in hybrid IPTV networks. The transmission medium is not important for IPTV. IP traffic is routinely carried by satellite to support Internet backbone trunking, corporate VSAT networks and corporate TV networks.

Copper twisted pair cabling, which forms the last miles of many countries’ telephone and broadband networks, is not capable of providing an IPTV service that matches satellite or terrestrial TV distribution. A connection speed of 20 Mbit/s will be required for a competitive multichannel TV service. However, this is not possible for most customers.

Satellites can deliver more than 100 Gbit/s using multi-spot beam technologies. This makes satellite an emerging technology for the implementation of IPTV networks. There are many ways satellite distribution can be integrated into an IPTV network architecture. An IPTV- direct-to-home architecture is the easiest to implement. This hybrid DVB-broadband set top boxes in subscribers’ homes integrate satellite reception and IP reception to provide additional bandwidth with return channel capabilities. Multicasting live TV channels via satellite may be combined with video-on-demand storage via the broadband connection. Arqiva suggests that IPTV works best when it is in a hybrid format. You could use broadband to get some content, and satellite to receive others, such as live channels.

Hybrid IPTV

Hybrid IPTV is a combination of traditional broadcast TV services with video delivered over managed IP networks and the public Internet. This is a growing trend in both pay and consumer TV markets.

Two factors are driving Hybrid IPTV’s growth. Two factors are driving the growth of Hybrid IPTV. Specialist IP-based operators are also looking for ways to provide analogue as well as digital terrestrial services without increasing their costs or complexity. Bandwidth can be a valuable asset to operators. Many have tried other ways to provide these services without having to invest in additional network infrastructure.

The hybrid set-top can combine content from multiple sources such as terrestrial satellite and cable. Video delivered over the Internet is possible via an Ethernet connection. This allows television viewers to have access to a wider range of content without having to purchase separate boxes for each service. The hybrid IPTV set-top box may allow users to access advanced interactive services such as VOD, catch up TV and Internet applications like video telephony surveillance, gaming, shopping and e-government.

A hybrid IPTV set top box is a better option for pay TV operators. They can deploy new services and apps as often as consumers need, without having to upgrade equipment, or have a technician visit to reconfigure the device. This lowers the cost of new services, speeds up market speed and minimizes disruption to consumers.

The Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV consortium was formed to establish an open European standard for hybrid set top boxes. These boxes could receive both broadcast and broadband TV signals. Advanced Digital TV was the first to market a hybrid IPTV set top box. This company is a developer of digital television software and hardware. This platform was created for Spanish pay TV operator Telefonica and used in its Movistar TV service. It was launched to subscribers at end 2005.

Alternative options include the IPTV version in Sky cable TV. Multiple TV channels can be distributed via satellite to an ISP’s point-of-presence (POP), for IP-encapsulated distribution. This allows subscribers to have a wide range of channels without overloading the POP’s incoming Internet. It also allows an IPTV service to be offered remotely to operators that are not within the reach of a high-speed WAN. One example is an IPTV Americas network that combines satellite and fibre distribution via an New Skies satellite with 95 channels to Latin America.

IPTV Advantages

The Internet protocol-based platform has many advantages, including the ability of integrating television with other IP services such as high-speed Internet access or VoIP.

Switched IP networks allow for significantly greater content and functionality. A typical TV or satellite network uses broadcast video technology. All content flows downstream to the customers, and the customer can switch the content at their set-top box. The customer has the option to choose from as many options as the cable, satellite or telecomms company allows into the pipe that flows into their home. The switched IP network functions differently. The content is retained in the network and the customer can choose the content that they want to be sent into their home. This frees bandwidth and allows customers to choose from a wider range of content.

IPTV Interactivity

A TV viewing experience that is IP-based can be enhanced by the use of an IP-based platform. An interactive programme guide may be offered by the provider that allows viewers to search content by title, actor, or picture in-picture functionality. This allows them to channel-surf without having to leave the program they are watching. A viewer may be able, for example, to view stats of a player while they are watching a sporting event or adjust the camera angle. You may also be able access photos and music from your TV, schedule a recording, adjust parental controls, or set up parental controls to allow your child to watch a documentary while you’re away.

Interactivity requires a feedback channel between the viewer and the provider. Interactivity is not possible on satellite, terrestrial, or cable television networks. Interactivity can be achieved with these networks by combining TV networks and data networks, such as the Internet (or a mobile communication network).

IPTV Video-on-demand

IPTV technology is used to enable video-on-demand (VoD) viewing. This allows customers to search online for programmes or films, watch trailers, and then choose a program. The playout for the selected item begins almost immediately on the customer’s TV/PC.

Technically, the point-to-point unicast connection between the customer’s set-top box (or PC) and the streaming server is established when the customer selects the program. The signalling to enable trickplay functionality (pause/slow-motion, wind/rewind, etc.) is done using RTSP. For example, RTSP may be used to communicate the signalling for trick play functionality (pause, slow-motion, wind/rewind etc.

To avoid content piracy, VoD content is often encrypted. digital rights management can be used. For example, a film may be available for 24 hours after payment. After that time, it will become unplayable.

IPTV-based converged services

Integration and convergence are another advantage. Converged services, which allow for seamless interaction between existing services to create new value-added services, is another advantage. On-screen CallerID is one example. It allows you to get Caller ID on your TV and to manage it (send it via voice mail, etc.). IP-based services allow consumers to access content from anywhere, anytime, via their TVs, mobile devices, or PCs. They can also integrate services and content to make them more interconnected. IPTV is a way to eliminate the need for a separate infrastructure in order to provide live and archived video services to businesses and institutions.

IPTV Limitations

IPTV can be sensitive to packet loss or delays when streamed data is not reliable. IPTV requires a minimum speed to be able to transmit moving images at the correct frame rate. The limited bandwidth and connection speed available to large IPTV customers can impact the quality of the service.

While some countries have extremely high-speed broadband connections, such as South Korea, which has 6 million homes and receives a minimum speed of 100 Mbit/s. Other countries, like the UK, struggle to provide 3-5Mbit/s. This means that simultaneous TV channel provision may not be possible. VOIP or Internet access may not even be feasible. Last-mile delivery of IPTV typically has a bandwidth limit that allows only a few simultaneous TV channels to be delivered. This is usually one to three.

Streaming IPTV over wireless links in the home proved difficult. This is not because of bandwidth limitations like many assume but because of issues with multipath reflections and the RF signal carrying IP data packets. An IPTV stream can only be successful if packets arrive at the correct time and in the correct order. The problem is being solved by improvements in wireless technology .

Most IPTV service providers use wired home networking technology today, rather than wireless technologies such as IEEE 8002.11. AT&T, which makes extensive use wireline home networking in its AT&T Universal IPTV service, has supported the work of ITU–T. This standard, also known as G.9960, is a next-generation home network standard that specifies a common PHY/MAC which can be used over any home wiring (power lines or coaxial cables).

IPTV Latency

Many people believe that satellites can’t be used successfully for IPTV because of the latency in using satellite Internet. Latency is not an issue for IPTV because it does not require real time transmission like telephony and videoconferencing.

It is the slow response time to requests to change channel or display an EPG. These issues affect satellite IPTV more than terrestrial IPTV. They are what most impact customers’ perception of the quality of service. Satellite distribution may solve the problem of command latency, which is caused by insufficient bandwidth on terrestrial IPTV networks as their customer base expands.

Latency is a problem with satellite distribution. The time it takes for the signal from the hub to reach the satellite and then back to the user is approximately 0.25 seconds. This cannot be reduced. The effects of latency can be mitigated by real-life systems that use data compression, TCP acceleration, and HTTP prefetching.

Satellite latency can cause problems for time-sensitive applications like on-line gaming. However, it does not affect first person shooters and many MOOGs that can work well over satellite Internet. But IPTV is a simplex operation (one way transmission), so latency is not an issue for video transmission.

Existing video transmission systems in both digital and analogue formats have quantifiable delays. The delay between satellite and terrestrial transmissions for DVB TV stations that simultaneously broadcast via both terrestrial and satellite transmissions is the same 0.25 second difference. It has no adverse effect and goes unnoticed.

IPTV Bandwidth requirements

Digital video is a sequence of digital images. They are composed of pixels and picture elements. Two values are assigned to each pixel: luminance, and color. Luminance refers to the intensity of the pixels, while chrominance refers to the colour of the pixels. Three bytes are used to indicate the colour of a high-quality image in a true color technique. A sequence of images creates the digital video. In this case, images are known as frames.

Movies are 24 frames per seconds. However, frame rates can vary depending on where you live. For example, North America uses approximately 30 frames per minute while Europe is using 25 frames per minute. Digital video is measured in width and height. Analogue TV has a dimension of 720×480 pixels. Many HDTV require 1920×1080 pixels. For SDTV, only two bytes (16 bits), are required to create the color depth. HDTV, however, requires three bytes (24 bit) to achieve the same effect.

At a frame rate of 30 frames/second SDTV’s uncompressed data rate is 30x720x480x16. This means that SDTV can receive 147,456,000 bits per sec. HDTV’s frame rate is 30x1920x1080x24, or 1,492,992,000 bit per second. This simple calculation shows that a service provider’s ability to deliver service to subscribers is limited if a lossy compression method has not been used.

The bandwidth requirements for IPTV services are not known in absolute terms. This is because household devices are increasing their bandwidth. The current compressed HDTV content can be delivered at an average data rate of 8 to 10 Mbit/s. However, if there are multiple HDTV outputs in the household, the rate will increase accordingly.

High-speed data transfers will increase bandwidth requirements for viewers. At least 2 Mbit/s is required to access web-based applications. A 64 kbit/s connection is needed to access the property’s landline telephone. To receive an IPTV Triple-Play service, a household will need 13 Mbit/s.

IPTV Privacy implications

An IPTV channel is delivered one at a given time due to bandwidth limitations. To change a channel, you must request the head-end server to deliver a different broadcast stream. (For VOD, the stream is delivered using multicast . For normal TV signals, the stream is delivered using multicast . This would allow the service provider to track every viewer’s viewing habits and duration. Advertisers and broadcasters could then better understand their audiences and programming with more accurate data and targeted ads.

This tracking, along with the regulatory differences between IPTV (cable TV) and IPTV, could pose a privacy threat according to critics.

IPTV Vendors

Although IPTV systems were sold worldwide for more than US$2billion in 2007, only a few companies provide the most current IPTV system solutions. To minimize costs externally, some, like Movistar TV were created by telecom operators. This tactic was also used by PCCW of Hong Kong. Several major telecoms companies are active in this area, including Accenture (Accenture Video Solution), Alcatel Lucent (sometimes working alongside Movistar TV), Ericsson, Huawei, NEC (title=”PCCW”>PCCW/a>, Thomson, and ZTE. AlphaOTT, Tokyo-based The New Media Group, Malaysian Select TV, Oslo/Norway based SnapTV, California-based UTStarcom, Inc. offer complete networking infrastructure for IPTV-based service. BNS Ltd., based in Hong Kong, provides turnkey IPTV technology solutions.

Hospitality IPTV Ltd has established several closed-net IPTV systems and expanded its reach to OTT delivery platforms in New Zealand, Australia and the Asia Pacific region in 2013.

Google Fiber provides IPTV services in several US cities. It includes 1 Gigabit of internet speed and more than 290 channels, depending on the package. This is possible through the fiber optic network that has been built in Kansas City Kansas and Kansas City Missouri.

Many of these IPTV solution providers participated in the biennial Multiservice Switching Forum Interoperability 2008, which was coordinated at five locations worldwide by the MultiService Forum. It took place from 20 to 31 Oct 2008. In one of the most extensive IPTV proving grounds, test equipment vendors, including Netrounds and codenomicon, Empriz, Ixia and Mu Dynamics joined solutions vendors like the ones listed above.

IPTV Service bundling

IPTV can be provided to residential users in combination with video-on-demand or may be bundle with Internet Services like Internet Access or Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In marketing, triple-play service is often used to refer to IPTV, VoIP and Internet connection bundles. The combined service can be called quadruple-play when these three services are offered together with cellular service.

IPTV Regulation

Broadcast television was regulated in a different way than telecommunications. New regulatory issues arise as IPTV allows TV and VoD transmissions over IP networks. Professor Eli M. Noam outlines them in his report, “TV or Not Television: Three Screens, one Regulation?” Some of the major challenges in sector-specific regulation are becoming obsolete because of convergence in this area.

 

 

 

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