Internet Protocol Television (IPTV): what is it?

Unlike broadcast TV, cable TV, or satellite signals, IPTV (Internet Protocol television) is a service that uses the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite to provide television programming and other multimedia information.

How does television over Internet Protocol operate?

A controlled or dedicated network, such as Digital Subscriber Line connection, is frequently used to provide IPTV content. A private network allows network operators greater control over video traffic than the public internet does. This control enables them to guarantee quality of service, uptime, capacity, and dependability.

All television content is concurrently transmitted in a multicast style under traditional television delivery. Viewers choose programs by flipping through the TV channels as the available program signals trickle downstream.

In contrast, an IPTV service uses a unicast format, sending only one show at a time. Only the program that the end user chooses is transferred to their device; all other content stays on the internet service provider’s network.

A fresh stream is sent straight to the viewer from the provider’s server when they switch channels. Similar to cable television, IPTV also needs extra equipment on the customer’s premises, including a fiber optic or broadband internet connection, a Wi-Fi router, and a set-top box.

For IPv4-based live television broadcasts, IPTV typically employs IP multicasting with Internet Group Management Protocol; for on-demand programming, it uses Real-Time Streaming Protocol. In IPv6 networks, multicast listener discovery is employed. Real-Time Messaging Protocol and Hypertext Transfer Protocol are two more popular protocols.

What are use cases for IPTV?

VoIP and high-speed internet are examples of IP-based telecommunication services that may be combined with IPTV since it operates on a packet-based delivery mechanism.

Through the use of IP, providers can also support a wide range of other services and applications, including time shifting, which is a catch-all term for TV services that let viewers watch content in ways other than live broadcasts, like digital recording, on-demand television shows, and the option to rewind or resume a live program that is already underway.

IPTV is in competition with internet TV, a different distribution model that describes television programming that is accessed via a broadband connection and distributed over a website.

IPTV Structure

There are two primary forms of IPTV architecture that may be taken into consideration for IPTV deployment: centralized and dispersed, depending on the network architecture of the service provider.

Centralized architecture is a somewhat straightforward and manageable option. A thorough content distribution system is not necessary because all media material is kept on centralized servers. A network with an effective content delivery network (CDN), sufficient core and edge bandwidth, and a relatively limited VOD service deployment is often better off with a centralized design.

Although distributed design includes intrinsic system management capabilities and advantages in bandwidth utilization, it is not as scalable as the centralized approach. These elements are crucial for operating a bigger server network. Therefore, operators should think about adopting a distributed architectural model from the beginning if they intend to install a very big system. In order to enhance the efficient delivery of multimedia content throughout the network of the service provider, distributed architecture necessitates intelligent and sophisticated content distribution solutions.

The center unit receives broadcast content from local antennas and satellites. Live TV channels and audiovisual sources are encoded, encrypted, and sent as IP multicast streams through the central unit. In addition, the central unit will house the video on demand (VOD) servers and platform, advertising servers, live TV streaming servers, and IP unicast streams that are used to offer on-demand video assets to users upon request. The IPTV’s central unit may occasionally house the VOD platform and be regarded as a component of it.

The IPTV broadcaster’s strong fiber optic internet uplink serves as the delivery network for the requested films and TV channels, which are sent to the viewer.

The viewer will get this broadcast at their end through their desired or local ISP (internet service provider), which may include DSL, fiber optics, broadband, or another method.