Etisalat, the Middle East's largest telecom operator will go on-air with 20 playout channels. Qvest Media, a broadcasting system integrator will ensure the technical production and implementation of the project starting with the first nine playout channels. The project supports Etisalat's initiative to expand its IPTV network in the region.

Qvest Media FZ LLC, part of the Germany-based Wellen+Nöthen Group, has received the go-ahead from Etisalat for the role of general contractor in planning, construction, commissioning and support for the realization of the entire project.

Read more.

The first phase of its Optical Transport Network (OTN) expansion has been offically announced by du.  he integrated telecom service provider offers a number of pay-TV options across the UAE including IPTV which will receive a huge boost from the enhance capability of the OTN. 

The expansion caters to the benefit of extending du’s core network which extends from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, the northern emirates and ultimately reaching du’s submarine cable landing station in Fujairah.  

Read more.

According to a report from Digital TV Research, on demand market is expected to increase in 2016. Revenues from on demand TV and film to reach $5.7 billion by 2016, a rise of 58% compared with 2010.  What would make the growth even more impressive is the total does not even include revenues from sports and subscription VOD services.

Read more.

According to The National, the UAE's IPTV market will not extend to triple play services, which will curtail true competition in the provision of IPTV by telcos Etisalat and du this year.

Operators Etisalat and du, currently offer triple play packages for fixed line telephony, internet and IPTV in non-competing areas of the Emirates. However in December, fibre-based services of both are due to open up to all customers across the UAE. All except Etisalat’s E-Life and du’s duTV IPTV offerings, it would seem.

Read more.
 

Rapid TV News reports that a multi-million Euro development contract has been signed by Saudi Telecom (STC) and Alcatel-Lucent for the expansion of the former’s broadband access network in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of the project, Alcatel-Lucent will deploy its IPsolution, the Intelligent Services Access Manager, to deliver data-rich multimedia services such as IPTV, VoIP and content-on-demand, in addition to network design, deployment, commissioning and project management support.

Read more.

Rapid TV News reports that the number of global broadband lines passed the 500 million mark in July 2010, according to Broadband Forum, highlighting research by industry analysts Point Topic, who also revealed strong growth for IPTV in the second quarter of 2010, with 2.3 million subscribers added in that time period, adding up to a total IPTV universe of 38.5 million users. The market research firms calculates that such growth means that  7.7% o fall broadband lines carry IPTV service, no change since Q1 2010.

Europe remains the most established region for IPTV with almost 19 million subscribers. Half of these are to be found in France where very high speed broadband connections are the norm.

Read more.