Since the phasing out of analogue television, digital TV has really started to come into its own across in Kenya and the world as a whole with choices on offer even greater. There are four different ways to view digital signals - terrestrial, satellite, cable TV and IPTV. But what is IPTV?
IP TV stands for Internet Protocol Television, i.e., television that is delivered to the house over an IP Network, rather than over traditional satellite, cable or terrestrial networks. This means that the television content is packetized into IP packets and delivered through a high speed access network (like Digital Subscriber Line ( DSL)). This, however, should not be confused with the delivery of television over internet. Traditionally internet is a best effort network and does not provide any guarantees to an individual service.
How does it work?
Digital television services are delivered over the internet by using Internet Protocol. The video channels and programs are delivered to the television sets through a broadband connection, instead of being delivered through the conventional cable or broadcast formats. The video streams are encoded into a series of internet protocol packets and then carried out through the public internet means which can be received by anyone by having a set-top box and a subscription for the service. IPTV is generally provided bundled with the VoIP and the internet access which is referred as “Triple Play” service. So this service is a complete package that allows customers to watch TV, browser the internet and making a long distance calls using the VoIP.
Features of IPTV?
VOD: Video on demand (VOD) is an option available to the users of IPTV. Each user is given the option to choose from a catalog of videos and watch them as many times as required. This feature uses unicast transmission, whereas normal TV broadcasts use multicast transmission. Real Time Streaming Protocol is used for VOD.
DVR: IPTV allows users to watch TV shows broadcast in the past using digital video recorder (DVR), which is also known as time shifted programming. Providers of IPTV allow users to watch recorded shows without DVR devices. There is a live DVR system at the provider’s end, making DVR more cost effective and efficient. Users can watch replays or start a TV program over from an interactive menu.
Live Television: IPTV allows users to watch live transmissions with minimal latency. It provides live television broadcasts either with or without interactivity, without being just like traditional TV broadcasts. The protocol used for live television is Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) version 2.
From the perspective of your average TV viewer, IPTV and digital cable are the same thing. Both services deliver a stream of encrypted data from cable or television companies servers to a digital set-top box in your home. Once the information reaches the digital terminal, the video streaming data is decrypted and passed onto your television.
Like digital cable, IPTV providers offers hundreds of digital television channels, an on-screen, electronic program guide, high definition programming, pay-per-view, video on demand (VOD), PVR capabilities, and other interactive services.
The only practical difference between IPTV and digital cable is the physical connection used to deliver the information to your home. IPTV services providers use your home's telephone line, while the cable companies use your home's coaxial cable connection,
Advantages
There are many advantages of IPTV over current digital or over the air broadcast TV signals; here are a few of them.
Integration
Integration can be a great way for many companies to offer several services in one integrated package. For instance, IPTV can also be packaged with normal broadband Internet as well as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
Interactivity
Interactivity is much easier to perform with IPTV than a normal cable, satellite or broadcast TV system. Because IPTV is delivered over the Internet where the consumer already has a modem in place, it is extremely easy for data to move from the TV company to the house, as well as data moving easily from the house back to the TV company.
Home Network
Not only is your TV set hooked up to the Internet, but all other computers in your home are hooked up to the same network, allowing you to use your TV to play media files that are stored on other computers. This may include digital photos, videos, surf the web or play music.
Video on Demand (VOD)
Video on Demand (VOD) is an interactive feature that allows you to request programs such as movies, TV shows, etc at your convenience.
Better Compression
IPTV produces a great picture and plenty of programming options such as interactivity, networking,integration, etc; however it can also deliver better images due to its compression. IPTV uses an improved standard of compression than the current digital television standard (FTA). This means that not only are file sizes being sent to your TV set smaller in size, the quality of the TV image is higher.
Disadvantages
While the advantages of IPTV greatly outweigh the disadvantages, there are a couple of disadvantages that you should be aware of.
Packet Loss
IPTV uses the same technology that other types of data use to send and receive information (Internet Protocol). Due to this fact, your TV may experience from time to time a pack loss or delays. Your experience can be significantly worse if your IPTV connection is not up to par or not quick enough.
IPTV uses the same technology that other types of data use to send and receive information (Internet Protocol). Due to this fact, your TV may experience from time to time a pack loss or delays. Your experience can be significantly worse if your IPTV connection is not up to par or not quick enough.
Currently No Support for HDTV
Most of the IPTV systems currently do not support HDTV broadcasts. However, technology is improving and since this is an important issue most analysis state that this will be corrected in the near future.
To conclude...Most of the IPTV systems currently do not support HDTV broadcasts. However, technology is improving and since this is an important issue most analysis state that this will be corrected in the near future.
The use of IPTV is on the increase, and with more people using broadband connections to access an ever increasing number of services, it seems likely that IP-TV technology will grow in importance over the coming years. The system offers many advantages including the use of VOD which makes it particularly attractive to many. When bundled with other services, IPTV will offer a cost effective way of viewing for many users and in addition to this it will provide many telecommunications providers with new and lucrative services to offer. These advantages seem to provide IPTV with a compelling business case.
In our next piece, we will discuss Internet TV.
