IPTV subscribers worldwide forecast to reach 38.4m by 2012

A new report that there will be a huge growth in the number of IPTV subscribers worldwide by 2012, increasing seven-fold from the end-2006 figure to reach 38.2 million. Revenues for service providers will possibly rise ten-fold.

These is only a prediction, and one can believe on it or not, but the fact is that service providers today seem to believe that IPTV will be the next killer application. A paper written last month, in IEEE Communications Magazine, was thus properly entitled "Internet Protocol Television (IPTV): The Killer Application for the Next-Generation Internet". Although this paper is not very well written and makes some confusing and sometimes even erroneous remarks (like confusing DSL filters cutoff frequency... twice!) - which is strange in one such a high level magazine - it is nevertheless worth reading.

KOREA: LG Dacom launches IPTV service

LG Dacom, Korea's third-largest fixed-line operator, yesterday launched the 3rd IPTV service in that country. While most contries worldwide are only now offering their first IPTV, South Korea has now 3 companies offering the service, which really illustrates their almost leading position in broadband services.

Central America's First IPTV Service

Panama’s CTV Telecom is the first operator offering IPTV service in Central America. It has selected the Amino AmiNET125 multi-codec Set-Top-Box (STB) for its service.

CTV will build a 100% fibre optical network in Panama City (the capital) exclusively to deliver the new IPTV service.