Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)

Alcatel-Lucent IPTV Solution
Alcatel-Lucent’s IPTV solution set is very threatening to competitors for at least two very distinct reasons: the company’s dual middleware offerings and its market leadership operationalizing the Alcatel-Lucent triple play reference architecture. (5/6/2010)
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Cisco IPTV Solution
Cisco’s IPTV solution set, which forms part of the company’s integrated end-to-end video networking proposition is threatening to competitors due to its differentiated linkage to Cisco’s routing, metro Ethernet, and data center solutions. (5/11/2010)
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Ericsson IPTV Solution
Ericsson’s IPTV solution set is very threatening to the IPTV solutions of rival vendors due to factors such as possession of a market-proven and diversified product portfolio, buttressed by prime systems integrator capabilities. (5/7/2010)
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Huawei IPTV Solution
Huawei has proven its ability to meet the scaling requirements of IPTV operators, but as Huawei seeks to expand into more advanced markets, it needs to demonstrate how its expertise gained in China levels the playing field with incumbent rivals. (6/22/2010)
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Motorola IPTV Solution
Motorola is threatening as an IPTV/DMI solutions provider, primarily because of the breadth and depth of its digital video portfolio, as well as its extensive experience in the cable market. (5/6/2010)
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Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV
Nokia Siemens Network’s IPTV Solution is vulnerable to the competition, although strategic shifts to its middleware platform and application development environment could alter its trajectory to improve the solution’s market traction. (5/12/2010)
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Top

• Solution Description
• Solution Elements
• Solution Strengths/Weaknesses
• Point/Counterpoint
• Key Selection Criteria
• Go To Market

• Content Delivery Systems
  Network video servers, primarily originated from VoD server roots, that support software developed and dedicated to IPTV applications such as VoD, ad insertion, and nPVR.
  
  
• Content Security
  The technology required to ensure the security and integrity of IP-based video applications such as IPTV. Specifically, this addresses digital rights management (DRM) and conditional access system (CAS) technologies.
  
  
• Head-end Systems/Encoders
  Part of network that concentrates video networking technologies required to deliver video over broadband. Specifically, this addresses platforms that support encoder capabilities and closely related capabilities such as content distribution.
  
  
• IPTV Middleware
  Software embedded in operator server and consumer CPE technologies (typically set-top boxes) that manage the user interface and the delivery of video to the TV such as IP-based video broadcast and video on-demand.
  
  
• STB Range and Interoperability
  The set-top box technology deployed at the consumer’s residence to enable IPTV applications and services. This includes the diversity of STB options and the ability to interoperate with requisite video networking protocols such as MPEG4/H.264 encoding.

IPTV Key Selection Criteria

• Content Delivery System Scalability
  Content Delivery System Scalability measures the ability of the video server-based components of an IPTV solution set to deliver and grow a carrier’s personalized video services such as VoD, nPVR, custom ad insertions, trick-mode viewing, and time-shift TV. This includes metrics such as the maximum number of IPTV/video subscribers supported per system, simultaneous streams delivered, and upgrade flexibility.
  
• Head-end Systems Flexibility
  Video Head-end Systems Flexibility includes the video networking technology required to perform the acquisition, processing, encoding, management, and closely related functions for the delivery of video services. This includes the acquisition and conversion of video from a wide range of sources such as satellite and fiber, the processing of video signals including muxing, ad insertion, transrating, and grooming, the encoding of video into format such as MPEG2 and MPEG4/H.264 to gain video compression efficiencies, and the logical and physical management of video services.


• Back-Office Compatibility
  Back-Office Compatibility addresses the ability of the IPTV solution provider to fully integrate carrier back-office systems such as OSS/BSS platforms with the IPTV networking elements. This can include IPTV middleware, provisioning, and activation elements.
  
  
• Security and Digital Rights Management (DRM) Efficacy
  Content Security and DSM Efficacy relates to the ability of the IPTV solution provider to integrate security and content assurances effectively into the overall solution package. This can include securing (or facilitating) content guarantees with content providers.


• IPTV Professional Service Integration Package
  IPTV Professional Service Integration Package measures the ability of an equipment vendor (i.e., IPTV solution provider) to perform as a lead integrator for IPTV solution integration efforts. This includes IPTV equipment resource depth and breadth, experience, and effective partnerships.


• IPTV Portfolio Diversity and Depth
  IPTV Portfolio Diversity and Depth measures the ability of a vendor to provide the key elements of an IPTV solution from within its own in-house portfolio to address both lead integration opportunities and focused product sales. This can include the ability of the vendor to leverage related and complementary infrastructure technologies such as access, carrier routing, mobile, VoIP/IMS, and optical technologies from within the same common portfolio.