When will IPTV be available in South Africa

[GTi]

When will IPTV be available in South Africa or will it be available for South Africans? I believe it runs in collaboration with your telecommunication services.

 

[Napalm]

Dunno, i think its still in testing Phase , but i bet alot of 4mbit ADSL users will go for IPTV rather than sticking with DSTV.

(Nice thing of IPTV, is that u can choose off a list, wich channels you want to watch.. also just pay for the channels your getting)

 

[ziglet]

Question: Will we get a seperate "ISP" account that will have "uncapped" bandwidth to allow us to connect to the video streams? What data rate would they be streamed at? So when anyone wants to watch TV, my downloads could affect the quality of the stream / my download speeds will be affected?

 

[GTi]

Is it not going to be like DSTV or are we going to have to make uses of the internet services????????

 

[Napalm]

Well even with the 4mbit connection (wich doesn't run at 4mbit stable) It streams at around 140kb per sec to 350kb per sec. (local streams are good)

For a good reliable IPTV service, there will have to be a good local provider. (so local data will be used). The provider might supply you with a local only account with access to their stream alone.


and yeah, if you have 4mbit adsl, and are busy downloading... your IPtv will be affected since it goes over the same line. So if one chows the speed, the other one will be slower or maybe even poor quality.

 

[bwana]

(Nice thing of IPTV, is that u can choose off a list, wich channels you want to watch.. also just pay for the channels your getting)

You could do the same with DSTV if they actually gave a damn and let you.

Also keep in mind - those 4mb/s lines are often capable much faster speeds so there might well be some they're keeping in reserve.

 

[Roman4604]

You could do the same with DSTV if they actually gave a damn and let you.

With conditional access, MC could just provide you with the channels you want. Their descision to go with the bouqet model is a business not technical one.

For a good reliable IPTV service, there will have to be a good local provider. (so local data will be used). The provider might supply you with a local only account with access to their stream alone

I doubt its viable to get IPTV from anyone other than the provider your using i.e. Telkom. The QoS required for stable vid streams (of broadcast or HD quality) will not be maintainable through peering links.

I'm guessing Telkom will place their streaming servers right next to each ESR (ADSL head end router). This means only the path between your ADSL modem/router and the ESR i.e. the virtual ATM circuit, will require the capacity for the stream. The rest of the SAIX IP backbone wont be affected.

Anyway I still think its doff to use bi-directional data networks for video distribution. Digital satellite or terestrial (DVB-T or DVB-H) broadcasts are far more cost effective and scalable.

 

[Napalm]

Why don't they just make a more affordable and customizable Satalite TV. Meaning you can choose wich channels you want. and pay RXXX amount per month for the stuff you chose of the list.

Also SA must get a bigger list of channels.

Fox Network, Sci-fi USA channel, CBS etc..

All the good stuff are on Fox and Sci-fi .. (DSTV even took away SA's Sci-fi channel)

 

[Paul_S]

(DSTV even took away SA's Sci-fi channel)

Which is why I bought a local only account (IS news servers).
There's no ways I'm going to wait for nearly a year until the BSG series is finished before I can buy the DVD set.
DSTV dropped the Sci-fi channel because the market here isn't big enough to make it financially viable so piracy is the only way to get it before one grows gray hair.

 

[cyberarmy]

when local bandwidth is uncapped and free

 

[kronoSX]

They should install access through your house wiring,wireless
Is this implemented yet,so dedicated wifi acess for tv

 

[telkomsuig]

I won't hold my breath on IPTV in their press release telkom said they are targeting the "emerging" market ... so IPTV will more than likely have tons of Africa Magic, MTv Base etc type of stuff..

 

[Syndyre]

To target the emerging market ADSL connectivity would have to get a lot cheaper, wouldn't complain about that.

 

[nuyork]

Which is why I bought a local only account (IS news servers).
There's no ways I'm going to wait for nearly a year until the BSG series is finished before I can buy the DVD set.
DSTV dropped the Sci-fi channel because the market here isn't big enough to make it financially viable so piracy is the only way to get it before one grows gray hair.

BSG is on ActionX now.

But I still download the show. And I'm loving Season 3....

:L:

 

[HaltAndCatchFire]

Yeah the state of Pay Channels in SA is not up to par! I would love if we could get FOX! All the best shows is on there, but Multi Choice buys old shows from them and shows them on Mnet! So it would not make business sense to add FOX if you buy content from them!

AS for IPTV I agree that dvb-h is much more viable! We will just have to wait and see but I bet you, allot of new options will be available come 2010!