Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a method of delivering and viewing television programming using an IP network and high-speed bandwidth access technology. It uses a two-way digital broadcast signal sent through a switched telephone or cable network by way of a broadband connection and a set-top box programmed with software that can handle requests to access many available media sources.
As IPTV continues to gain popularity, this is changing how telecom operators deliver telecommunications services. Over the years, services providers have found success in the “one bill” approach, offering voice, data, and wireless services. With the introduction of IPTV, a major component of triple-play, service providers are now able to fully leverage this multi-service offering of voice, data, and video over an IP network.
The IP-based platform offers significant advantages, including the ability to integrate television with other IP-based services like high-speed Internet access and VoIP. In addition to allowing delivery of more content and functionality, a switched IP network also provides opportunities for the TV viewing experience to be more interactive and personalized.
Walker is partnered with leading manufacturers of IPTV hardware and software providers to create a comprehensive IPTV solution including:
Residential Gateways
Located at the customer premises, residential gateways provide broadband access connection to the carrier’s network and acts as a gateway to the home network.
IP Set-Top Boxes (STB)
The IP set-top box is part of the home network which has an IPTV receiver to decode the video signal along with the embedded middleware client.
Access Network
The broadband access node is typically a next-generation DSLAM or OLT with PON interfaces and is owned by the carrier offering IPTV services.
TV Head-End/Encoders
The encoders at the head-end acquire content from the satellite feeds encode and compress signals into a format suitable for transport over the IP network.