The report
DSL DTV: Status and Prospects published recently by Strategy Analytics forecasts that digital television and video services, delivered over existing copper phone wires using technology known as xDSL will account for 11% of all digital TV services by 2008. xDSL currently accounts for less than 1% of digital TV viewing.
The report claims that the telecoms operators will have to deal with content providers and invest long-term in network upgrades. If they can achieve this then it id forecast that DSL DTV will help recoup some of the losses currently occuring in the traditional fixed line voice business.
“DSL can become the fourth DTV platform,” says David Mercer of Strategy Analytics. “But it is doubtful that many of today’s telcos will make it: delivering content is an alien business for most of them.”
If the operators can also capitalise on the opportunity to ‘bundle’ DTV services with traditional telephony, messaging, broadband Internet and home network management then it will enable them to compete with cable, satellite and other emerging technology providers.
Strategy Analytics also forecasts that annual sales of DSL DTV set-top boxes will rise to 10.7 million units by 2008, a considerable increase from the 1 million sold in 2002.
