IPTV: A provision through which TV services are delivered using the IP suite over a LAN or the Internet.
The video in the form of IP
packets is sent over the existing broadband infrastructure and assembled at
consumers’ end with the help of a set top box (STB).This is beneficial for
broadcasters as they can offer the ‘triple play’ service of voice, data and TV
over the same network, using the same infrastructure.
For
the IPTV to be in full-fledged functioning stage, IMS implementation in the
transport layer of operator’s network is very much essential.
Definition of IPTV by the International Telecommunication Union is:
“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”
Features
of IPTV:
- Time Shift: We can watch last 7 days programs and it can be auto recorded.
- Live TV Controller: Rewind, pause and play even while watching live TV broadcast.
- Video on Demand (VOD): We can Rewind, fast forward, pause and play the latest blockbusters as per our convenience. It is like watching movie on DVD player.
- All weather broadcasting: Unlike DTH, IPTV is a wired connection and provides an all-weather, un-interrupted broadcasting experience.
Challenges
for IPTV:
- Still in the stage of infancy
- High bandwidth requirement which creates hurdle for broadcasting hundreds of channels simultaneously.
- Delay while changing channel as request goes to content server.
IPTV
deployment in India is the deployment of IPTV services over DSL, ADSL, ADSL2+
network infrastructure owned by operators like BSNL, MTNL & Airtel and
Reliance.
Direct to Home (DTH):
This is the common name of Satellite TV
where the signal in Ku band is received using dish antenna installed in user’s
premises.
Signal in the encrypted form from
satellite is received by these variable sized antennas. Unlike IPTV, there
is no intermediate operator between the broadcaster and the viewer. This industry comprises of seven
operators viz. Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Tata Sky,Sun Direct, Reliance Digital
TV, Videocon D2H and DD Direct.
Subscriber base in India at year 2014-15
was 73.06 mn.
Features
of DTH:
- · MPEG4 quality or DVD quality digital transmission.
- · Interactive services to interact with the TV.
- · Movie On Demand,
Challenges
for IPTV:
- · Loss of signal due to heavy rains and storms
- · Regulatory concerns
Main Issue of war
- · Operators are aggressively promoting DTH services and not IPTV services. If IMS-based IPTV gets deployed it will attract many subscribers which will result in churn out of DTH subscribers.
- · Companies are playing safe and waiting to see the results of IPTV launch of some of the existing companies.
- · Operators are waiting for the broadband infrastructure to grow and be IPTV ready.
The
price issue gives a different perspective to this scenario; higher prices of
IPTV as compared to DTH is the main drawback. By looking at price sensitive
market of India, any comment over this cannot be confidently put as of now. But
consumers who are willing to pay more for better quality and ease of access of
TV will show inclination towards IPTV.
With the uninterrupted signal
and dynamic services offered, IPTV will overcome its low weighing basket of
concern about cost. If full-fledged functioning of IPTV happens, then we may
see the total paradigm shift of scenario and possibility of the whole DTH
industry going for toss.
