In the previous articles we have talked about the key phases in defining and fine-tuning technology innovations. Detecon’s Technology & Network Engineering team also focuses on helping clients execute the steps that follow the earlier phases. Any innovation, no matter how revolutionary, will not yield the desired benefits unless implementation complexities are understood up front. The example we chose for this article, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), demonstrates how important implementation can be, from digging up streets, to deploying new middleware, to launching a meaningful addition to an Operator’s service portfolio by branching out into a new business.

As part of our Integrated Management and Technology consulting, we support our clients in: 

> technology strategy definition and selection 

> network and service infrastructure design, planning and prototyping 

> tendering and vendor selection 

> platform implementation, analysis, optimization and migration management


The complexity and cost of implementing new platforms depends largely on whether it is a greenfield (new build) or brownfield (overbuild or migration) environment, with the latter usually requiring more diversified engineering expertise (both legacy and new technologies), planning (migration!) and time. Deploying new platforms from scratch, disregarding existing infrastructures, is a luxury which most incumbents can’t afford.


In many cases, it is a mix of both scenarios. Recent examples combining a mix of both green and brownfield deployments are the incumbents’ different buildout strategies for advanced broadband access networks (fiber [FTTx], copper [xDSL] or both [hybrid]) in order to bundle communication services and rich media delivery, including TV and video – commonly defined as IPTV. This article will highlight challenges and opportunities faced with the deployment of this much-hyped mix of services.


Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) has become a synonym for services and bundles beyond IP based Video on Demand and Digital Television. As cable operators and other competitors enter voice telephony, telcos are striving to create a similar bundle combining both voice and video in order to compete. In addition to competitive pressures, telcos need to find new sources of revenue to replace their declining voice dollars. IPTV offers a solution to this dilemma.
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