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When you think about mobile IPTV, the first thing that is likely to come to your mind is watching TV programs and movies on a cell phone, except perhaps with the signal coming from an IPTV service. This is certainly one of the major aspects of mobile IPTV, that is just beginning to take shape and is surely a technology to watch out for; but there is very little progress on this front.

In a recent study by Cisco, it is said that the volume of video traffic that is supposed to pass through mobile networks will make it easily the most popular and exciting application on the phone in the coming years. Video is expected to grow 151% in the period between 2008-2013 and that Western Europe and APAC will account for 60% of the mobile traffic in 2013.

However, this technology still needs to cross a few hurdles to reach that height. There are limited mobile TV services available in India over GPRS/EDGE networks for some time, but due to the lack of a high quality viewing experience, there has hardly been any adoption.

Players
State-owned Indian telco, MTNL, has announced the launch of a 3G mobile TV service. The new service claims to offer MPEG4 picture quality and will be available in both Delhi and Mumbai circles. MTNL has partnered with content provider Apalya Technology to offer the service, alongside vendor Alcatel-Lucent and IPTV service provider Aksh Optifibre, the latter already offers a fixed IPTV product, iControl, via the telco. The new service utilizes Alcatel-Lucent Mobile Streaming Server, which supports all types of standard based media formats and dynamic switching from high-bit rate to low-bit rate streaming based on network coverage and bandwidth availability. UTStarcom is also launching its mobile IPTV services in India in a couple of months.
Mobile TV service provider MobiTV, is working with AT&T to bring its U-verse IPTV service to mobile phones. Initially, MobiTV may contribute its own content, later adding content from the U-verse package. Cingular Wireless (now owned by AT&T) has been offering MobiTV's service on many of its handsets for about fifteen months, so such a deal wouldn't be altogether surprising, although no formal contracts have been signed.
Perhaps an even more exciting development is the unveiling of IPTV phones. Seoul based home networking startup, Ubicode is developing a mobile IPTV phone in partnership with a major (undisclosed) Korean handset manufacturer. The mobile IPTV offering would allow viewing of programming after downloading from a STB rather than live broadcasting.

Why Mobile TV?
Mobile TV has turned out to be the most efficient way to deliver video broadcast technology which can conserve spectrum effectively as well. Since cell phones provide the best possible way to reach out to users; mobile TV can provide better ways of information access on-the-go. It is a useful technology for emergency information dissemination, overcoming literacy barrier and interactivity as well as entertainment for the users.
Convergence is a key area driving future innovation in IPTV, where all types of devices will be combined into one interactive platform. Since the same handset can be used for normal mobile telephony, this leads to quadruple play involving a four-way convergence. Mobile IPTV viewers can expect to have a seamless viewing experience when it comes to media. It is about personal choice: when they want it, how they want it, and on a device of their choice. Mobile phones are often called the third screen (after TV and PC), but in reality it is more of a 'personal screen'. It is one of the most personal devices that people have with them at all times. Such a personal screen completes the TV viewing experience giving people freedom of choice and location on a device that is almost an extension of their personality.

Challenges in India
However, In India there are other barriers which are holding back this technology. The current policy of not permitting terrestrial broadcast by private operators will have to change for the introduction of mobile IPTV in India. Technology trials should be allowed to private operators and quickly create technology neutral framework (on the lines of Telecom Policy 99). Trai Consultation is what is required urgently to accelerate this technology in India.
Another hurdle which many operators may face after its launch is moving a particular video from the Wi-Fi network at home to a GSM/CDMA wireless network outdoors or to another CDMA/WiFi network at the office. This requires a solution that crosses access transport boundaries seamlessly. And that requires an amalgamation of next generation network (NGN), IP and an fixed mobile convergence (FMC) solution that enables transparent interconnection to both fixed line and cellular networks and that eliminates the need for a major overhaul of existing infrastructure.
But moving to FMC technology-which will provide the best coverage wherever the subscriber is located, including spotty indoor locations-is where the problem lies for operators. It can be a tough decision for an operator that has already made an investment in NGN and offers some IP service, and has also invested in a GSM/CDMA network. No operator wants to pull the plug on its existing networks to invest in an entirely new infrastructure. This problem can only be solved with an NGN/FMC platform that can provide peering between an operator's disparate networks, enabling customers to transition seamlessly from one to another.

The Future
Operators no longer have one network over which they provide service; they have one network over which they provide multiple services and the RoI of such a model is powerful. Depending on the subscriber base and the services invoked, achieving RoI can drop from the traditional twelve to eighteen months to as little as three to six months.
Given the rapid maturity of the mobility and entertainment markets in India, the stage is set for both IPTV and mobile TV technologies to be introduced to enable efficient spectrum usage and to enhance customer delight. According to Informa Telecoms & Media Research, by 2015 there will be well over 400 mn digital TV homes, including 40 mn taking IPTV, which in turn will generate revenues of more than $40 bn. IPTV subscribers will grow by 25 mn over the next five years, which means that it will become a significant rival to cable and DTH in some markets.
Mobile users are rapidly expanding beyond the basic services enabled by cell phones-voice, text messaging and voice mail-to digital media of all sorts (including video). Thus, it seems natural that as IPTV technology matures, IPTV services will be deployed over wireless broadband networks for viewing on mobile devices very soon keeping in mind all the major shortcomings for its success.

Akanksha Singh
akankshas@cybermedia.co.in

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