IP-TV

Filed in archive Technology on December 3, 2004

After VoIP we can now expect IP-TV with the next wave of 10MBit+ connections. Interesting new acronym:

"Bit by bit, they are. On Oct. 20, massive SBC Communications (SBC ) inked a $1.7 billion contract with telecommunications gear maker Alcatel (ALA ) to turbocharge its network to bring 20 megabits-per-second of digital bandwidth to 18 million homes within two years. That's enough to simultaneously serve a TV show shown in high-definition format and a standard-definition program, with enough left over for high-speed Net access and Net-based phone service. SBC followed up that deal on Nov. 17 by announcing plans to spend $400 million on IP-TV software from Microsoft.

If IP-TV takes off, it will provide much-needed new opportunities to traditional phone companies that have built their businesses around wire lines. Besides losing customers to cell carriers in recent years, they've been losing out to cable-TV companies that are producing their own phone and Internet services. In many regions, cable providers have grabbed 30% of the traditional phone customers, say analysts."

Thanks Rajesh!