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| IPTV Remains Top Priority for Telcos to Reduce Churn and Raise ARPU |
[Hong Kong, 20 January 2005] IPTV remains the next logical step for telcos to protect their revenues but content, piracy and customer service issues are still big challenges key industry players agreed at a panel discussion during the Pacific Telecommunication Council’s (PTC) annual conference in Hawaii.
The panel "Delivering New Services to Homes" was moderated by Mr Jeffrey Soong, CEO of Hong Kong based IPTV solutions provider Broadband Network Systems (BNS) and featured panellists from Europe, North America and Asia who discussed key learnings and challenges with IPTV solutions in their respective markets.
The session highlighted that while customer service is the number one service differentiator, content appears to be the key challenge for new players unaccustomed to deal negotiation and different industry dynamics. This is particularly true in Asia, where not price competition but content differentiation emerges as the key to success.
Other key issues discussed at the session included piracy which remains a hot topic for IPTV delivery particularly in Asia where operators are fighting content owners?preconception that IP is not secure and easy to violate.
"IP is one of the most secure delivery means when it comes to video," Mr Jason Durant, Director of Content and Alliances of Canada’s SaskTel said. "However telcos need to open up and show content owners how each element of the network works, even it’s a proprietary development, to give content owners confidence in its security."
"Overall, I think this panel discussion has made clear that for telcos around the world, launching IPTV and Triple Play is not a matter of IF, but WHEN," panel moderator Jeffrey Soong said. "But big challenges remain and operators have to ensure they build a watertight business case for IPTV that includes all factors - churn reduction, ARPU increase and revenue generation" he said.
Panelists also included Dr. Minzheong Song, Senior Researcher at Korea Telecom (KT) and Mr Jean Francois Thomas, Vice President, Asia at France Telecom.
PTC’s annual conference which was this year held from 16-19 January, is the premier telecommunication and information technology event for the Asia-Pacific region that brings together industry leaders to discuss current developments in the telecommunications industry.
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