IPTV - 3-in-1 facility

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IIPTV - 3-in-1 facility

Ambar Singh Roy

A single telephone line enables the customer to use the telephone, Internet and IPTV simultaneously. More on what is in store.

When was the last time you were faced with the dilemma of deciding whether to watch the India-West Indies one-dayer or your favourite soap that was being broadcast at the same time?

How about enjoying the privilege of watching your favourite movie at a time that is convenient to you? Add to that DVD quality picture and sound. Top it up with video conferencing, personalised advertisements and greetings, facilitation for distance learning, alert messages for your favourite programmes, et al.

That, for you, is IPTV, the latest in convergence in the telecom and entertainment spectrum that will soon be launched on a commercial scale by state-owned telecom services provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL).

For the uninitiated, what is IPTV? Simply put, it is a TV connection that has the capacity to transmit all broadcast channels, movies on demand, customer live request, etc, through existing telephone lines to and from customer TV to content server.

The content server is located at the premises of BSNL and stores the broadcast channels, movies, music, customers' requests, etc, and sends the video streaming to the customer's TV. For IPTV, the minimum bandwidth that would be required is 600 Kbps for both download and upload.

Interestingly, it is a single telephone line that enables the customer to use the telephone, Internet and IPTV simultaneously.

The nitty-gritty

For IPTV to work, the customer's telephone line would have to be connected to the Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) and the Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) through a Splitter.

From the CPE, one Ethernet Cable will go to the PC for Internet connection while another Ethernet Cable will be connected to the TV through a Smart Electronics Device (SED). The SED is an electronics gadget that contains all the features of a Set Top Box and other advanced features for live customer interaction, such as video conferencing, rewinding, fast-forward and stopping of movies, etc. The ADSL facilitates transmission at higher speeds up to 8 Mbps even as the Splitter enables bypassing of the speech path. The streaming format is based on MPEG4.10 technology and H.264 standard. For availing IPTV services, a customer can buy any TV set of his choice. His only extra investment would be on the SED.

With the IPTV rollout, BSNL could well replace the local cable services provider and may emerge as the Last Mile Provider (LMP) with access to the Multi Systems Operators or, in other words, what BSNL sources refer to as the Content Delivery Network Provider.

Scoring over others

According to sources in BSNL, IPTV has several benefits to offer that score over normal cable/Dish TV. Under the CAS regime, customers can receive data but cannot provide feedback or make requests for specific programmes. IPTV, however, provides for customers to store any programme/broadcast for viewing later at a time convenient to them.

IPTV encompasses all broadcast channels/live events - free as well as pay channels. Customers enjoy facilities such as video conferencing and video on demand. They can savour DVD quality picture and sound and even send personalised advertisements and greetings.

IPTV can also be put to good use as a video classroom and a medium for online training. No wonder, in the US, IPTV is more popular as ITV, i.e. Interactive TV.

The sources said work is under way for a commercial rollout of the IPTV service beginning from Kolkata.

A nationwide rollout will follow after city-wise content providers are identified and appointed for the purpose. The tariff for the IPTV service is being worked out. The sources said the tariff would be "attractive and affordable".

As an additional benefit, customers will be provided a single bill for all the three services - telephone, Internet and IPTV. A rebate thrown in could well be the icing on the cake.

But why would one opt for IPTV for a price when other entertainment avenues were accessible? Pat comes the reply: "Why do people pay a premium and watch movies at Inox when watching the same movie in a cinema hall comes much cheaper? Obviously for better viewing quality.

Why do people subscribe to broadband when dial-up connection facility is available? For better and hassle-free access to the Internet.

Similarly, we expect BSNL customers to subscribe to IPTV for all its advantages over traditional cable/dish TV".

BSNL is bullish on the potential of IPTV in the country. The telecom services provider has about 35 million landline connections in the country.

It is hopeful that 20 per cent of this would subscribe to IPTV within the next one year. It that happens, half the battle for eyeballs in households will have been won.