We recently asked Alex Cameron, the founder of consultancy DigitalTX to give us his perspectives on the development of IPTV and VOD - and the crunch points for Ofcom and regulators in this area. We’ve posted his answers below.

Alex has also produced a more wide ranging white paper outlining the areas where he believes Ofcom should look to develop their thinking in the year ahead.

Entitled - ‘An Action Plan for Ofcom’ - the paper makes some interesting points as to what Ofcom could do stimulate the development of new media services like IPTV and WiMax.

Also…people interested in this area should pop along to DigitalTX’s one-day workshop course on IPTV and Video On-Demand (VoD) specifically for web and media professionals.

The course will get attendees up to speed on the latest technologies, content deals, operators and applications in this area from around the world, and aims to help you identify new opportunities and threats for your business. If you would like more information, call Alex on 07986 373177 or email iptvworkshop@digitaltx.tv

Alex Cameron talks to Ofcomwatch

1. Tell us about the opportunities for companies in launching IPTV/VOD services?

There is such a large range that I’d truly find it difficult to describe in a few sentences, but I’ll try to be succint! The rational behind IPTV deployments all over the world is that its the next logical service for ISPs and telcos to provide after data and voice, as part of a ‘triple play’ proposition. Most hope it will protect customer loyalty and stop the tide of falling operating margins. Consumers have an entirely new type of converged media and television experience, and content owners can use technology to reach new audiences in new ways.

2. How should Ofcom look to encourage the development of IPTV and VOD?

They’ve done relatively well so far, but the biggest area they need to look at is the telecoms framework that underpins the IPTV industry, as it’s the medium that carries these new services.

We need cheaper pricing and reserved LLU economics so unbundling is cheaper in remote areas than in heavily subscribed metro areas. A ‘passport’ or mandatory migration system for triple play is essential, as is national licencing for ISPs (ITC-style so consumers can contact the people who run them), standards on data privacy and a working group for IPTV in Whitehall.

I’d like to see BT Wholesale made to offer QoS on all of its products, parental rating for digital radio, clarity of regulation on HomePlug/PLC products and clarity on the regulation of internet/TV content. We need the WiMax spectrum opened up, 10x the terrestrial (DVB-T) capacity and ITV-C4-Five all need to be forced to broadcast in the clear so we can have genuine competition in the satellite sector. Sky’s ass needs to be kicked, big time.

3. Do you think the undertakings BT have agreed with Ofcom will spur the development of IPTV and VOD services?

Quite frankly, no. BT are not implicitly evil - they are just acting like any other business would. There will never be a time when Retail and Wholesale act independently of one another, and its just not in their interests to foster greater access for their competition, a bit like how its not in the interests of a turkey to vote for Christmas.

The only time they seem to do anything is when Ofcom get so annoyed they threaten to break up for the Nth time, and they will resist any undertakings, aggressively and passively, until their retail interests have been cared for. IPTV needs an QoS-based IMS infrastructure, universal connectivity and bandwidth as a commodity. I’m cheered by them finally get the Max range out, and hopefully we’ll see some VDSL2 action soon as well. I want to see vision, and that’s sorely lacking in Westminister.

4. What’s the rationale behind DigitalTX?

Simple really. We help telecoms and technology people work with content owners, and vice versa. These 3 industries are crashing into each other, and its not a pretty sight, despite the incredible opportunities that are becoming available. We help them all to solve problems, understand each other, develop new services and make their technology interoperable.

About Digital TX Limited

Formed in early 2004, privately owned and based in London (UK), Digital TX Limited is IPTV/VoD consultants for interactive digital television and broadband media. Some of the keywords you might associate with us are IPTV, Video On-Demand, Triple Play, Broadband Entertainment, Video Over IP, Interactive TV, Network Video Gaming and Telco TV.

Digital TX Limited has worked with many leading blue chip communications providers and can help catalyse your route to market for IPTV services by working with you to design your next-generation multimedia network, build your commercial deployment model and broker relationships with vendors, rightsholders, partners and customers. If we can be of any assistance please don�t hesitate to contact Alexander Cameron on +44 (0) 7986 373177 or via email on alex.cameron@digitaltx.tv