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simplicity for consumers using
WiFi will mean it will continue
to be the leading technology
but others, such as Home Plug,
will grow in popularity to work
around the limitations of WiFi.
HGI: Today’s home media
networks have multiple
solutions, but consumers have
largely gravitated to use WiFi
where possible, Ethernet where convenient,
and other solutions such as powerline where
needed. In addition, point to point wireless
solutions – like Bluetooth or WiFi Direct for
local streaming – are becoming more
widespread. But these networks may not
provide all the attributes of low power
consumption, performance, delay,
configuration, security, etc. as required for
value added services. There is a substantial
set of home network interfaces, device and
associated ecosystems available that may
better address the needs of smart home
services, for instance. HGI has recently
published a requirements document that lays
these out.
Humax: There is probably going to be a mix
of network options when it comes to carrying
media around the home. WiFi seems to be
one of the most preferred, as it is simple to
install and use. However, in some cases this
is not consistent and the use of Power Line is
better. For the cable MSO, a tried and tested
method is MoCA, which uses coax and is
stable and capable of handling high data
rates.
Irdeto: No, at least not any time soon. We
think experimentation and collaboration is
going to be the theme in the years to come.
Consumers will drive the success and failure
of different technologies. Simplicity and
convenience, however the solutions will be
combined and delivered behind the scene, is
the key.
MoCA: Having one in-home network might
be network nirvana but in reality it’s unlikely.
This is where nVoy, the certification
programme for hybrid home networks
products based on the IEEE 1905.1 standard,
offers a realistic economical solution. nVoy,
which will soon start certifying products,
provides the best option for both consumers
and service providers, because it marries
wired performance with Wi-Fi mobility,
while keeping set-up of new devices as
simple as possible and providing a range of
diagnostic tools to optimise the network.
nVoy represents a real step forward for the
industry because it will unite Wi-Fi, MoCA
and HomePlug and provide a simple way to
identify and integrate all three technologies
in the home.
22 EUROMEDIA
“There is probably going
to be a mix of network
options when it comes to
carrying media around
the home.“
Rovi: No. There are four basic options for
transmitting content in the home: Ethernet,
WiFi, MoCA and powerline networking. Each
technology applies best to specific building
structures and geographic locations. Each
country has its own standards.
S3: A single, universally accepted, home
network solution is unlikely to emerge in the
short term. In an increasingly cloud based
future the concept of the ‘home’ will move
away from a set of locally networked devices
to a set of personalised multi-screen cloud
managed devices available on a high-speed
local network.
SoftAtHome: IP has clearly changed the
landscape of pay-TV. Hybrid platforms that
mix IP with broadcast technologies are likely
to emerge for the optimum home network.
Even cable operators are looking at migrating
from traditional infrastructures to IP
distribution.
Viaccess-Orca: Operators will be able to
counter market saturation with high end, and
high performance residential gateways. As
they manage their network, multi-play telcos
and cable operators are well positioned to
take the control of the home, carrying all the
content and services used in the home
through a home gateway. This gateway may
also include services related to energy and
health.
Euromedia: What are the prospects for a
retail market as a channel for multiple
services/devices, or will this remain an
operator supply?
ABOX42: We believe the operators
(including new OTT operators) are in the
driving seat to deploy compelling multiscreen solutions to their customers. Most
markets are dominated by pay-TV offerings
by operators. Looking into the hardware
devices, already today lots of retail devices
(iOS or Android based) can be enabled as a
second screen device, where the operator
controls the application for
these devices (for OTT
services).
AirTies: With OTT
emergence and direct-toconsumer marketing from
content owners, retail will
become increasingly
essential. Operators will
continue to work as they do
now, but there will be more
opportunity to leverage revenue through
retail partnerships, especially online.
Albis: IPTV and OTT business is driven by
the operators. This will only change if one
common standard for both solutions can be
achieved.
Amino: There’ll always be a retail market –
for both devices and OTT service delivery.
The increasing integration of retail OTT
services – such as Netflix – into operator
servic H X