Could we be in the early phases of an IPTV hosting/outsourcing trend? Midwest Video Solutions, in offering a shared headend solution, is not the only company allowing telcos interested in selling TV services to do so over a hosted platform. Nokia Siemens Networks, a global vendor giant with much experience deploying IPTV gear for carriers, has developed a broad hosted IPTV platform, including encoders, video servers, digital rights management functions, back office and other elements. This should help telcos intimidated by the complexity and cost of building and managing their own comprehensive systems to get into the game.
As many of the obvious early adopters progress in their IPTV build-outs, such hosted platforms could keep the line moving with a second phase of build-outs yet to begin. If telcos buy in to the hosted option, we are likely to see more major vendors develop their own hosted platforms. Could we also see IPTV hosting specialists emerge? Similar things have happened in every telecom sector where hosting has become a force.
For more:
- check out this coverage [1] at Light Reading Europe
Related articles:
- NSN's IPTV middleware unit Myrio has seen telco customers experience delays. NSN report [2]
Links:
[1] http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=154322
[2] http://www.fierceiptv.com/story/middleware-frustrations-stymie-hd-rollout/2008-03-18