Vas By Cable Operators

Indian Cable TV industry is going through a metamorphosis. And this is quite evident as enough hype is being generated about CAS, DTH, Digitization and to top it all VAS. 

While picking up VAS (Value Added Services) as a subject of business opportunity, attention should hover around two basic elements.

A. Types of VAS

B. Delivery Mechanism

A. Types…

A series of services can be run besides the basic cable TV and Internet bandwidth under this category.

i) Near Video On Demand : - It is like a virtual VCR/CD Player/DVD Player where the subscriber gets the independent option of picking the content from the available library of stored contents in a server while retaining the choice of pausing, reviewing or doing a fast forward.

ii) Games On Demand : - The subscriber can choose between stored/downloaded games and interactive gaming channels.

iii) Satellite Channels On IP: - By the auto-tuning scheduler at the head-end, multiple satellite channels can be streamed automatically and the subscribers can have a choice of watching those on their respective IP.

iv) Network Personal Video Recorder (NPVR): - This is a very popular application, which enables the consumer to watch TV channels on demand later than the original schedule. 

v) E- Remedy: - This ensures the interaction between the patient and the doctor from a distance. The vital data like body temperature, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, heart beats, pulse rates can be measured and given to the physician through a remote device without actually meeting him physically.

vi) Video Conferencing: - This is also a very popular service, which can be instrumental for providing E-Tuitions, E-Safety/Surveillance and E-Shopping etc. on the existing network.

vii) Net Television/Computer: - Lower level of PC penetration as compared to that of television is detrimental to the growth of VAS as an industry today. This particular facility, which works as a computer with a much lower cost as compared to a normal PC, will not only help increase the market size but also will be accepted as a device for digital living room.

viii) Miscellaneous Services: - Besides the above a few other services like local e-yellow pages, FM channels on IP and VOIP (Voice Over IP) can contribute to a larger perspective.

B. Delivery Mechanism: - 

In the present context there are two different carriers available.

i) A single cable carrying Triple Play: - This phenomenon is widely in air since the day, the word ‘Convergence’ got popularity in this industry. It requires a complete revamp of the entire head-end, huge upgradation of the existing infrastructure and a Set Top Box at the consumer’s premises. This attracts mammoth investments and hence under most circumstances is confined to MSOs or biggies, who are aspiring to venture into this industry. Technically it gives a level playing field for the CATV industry by throwing effective competition to other delivery platforms like DSL, DTH etc. This single cable can be termed as digital cable and mingled with CAS it can certainly go a long way in addressable entertainment era. But on the flip side, the LMO (last mile operator) is a mere onlooker and is left with no option but to sign as a franchisee with one of the MSOs / Service Providers. 

ii) Metro-Ethernet (A combination of CATV & CAT-5 network): - This is absolutely a new mantra, developed by MIDAS Technologies, an IIT, Madras incubated company, which has emerged as a lifeline for the LMOs. Typically in most part of India cable operators have laid overhead CAT-5 for delivering Internet Bandwidth parallel to their CATV / Coaxial networks. This, by default, has allowed two different cables into the most of the households. Through this mechanism a gateway is implemented at the head-end at a very very low & affordable cost as compared to conventional digitization technology, which combines the CATV network and the CAT-5 network ensuring the similar quality, reliability and versatility of services. This solution through a very cost effective managed Switch provides return path on overhead CAT-5 for the CATV network. These layer-2 switches, designed for outdoor mounting and capable of carrying 10 mbps to a distance of 300 meters or 100 mbps to 150 meters, receives data & video on Coaxial path and distribute them on Ethernet to consumers while using CAT-5 or any other Ethernet protocol for upstream. This enables any cable operator in deploying and making his / her network into a 2-way interactive network providing host of services as detailed earlier. This also incorporates features like Power Over Ethernet (POE), Seamless transfer in case of a cable cut, surge protection up to 4000V at every port of the switch and several others. The most interesting aspect of the technology being the absolute non-requirement of a single upgradation on both the existing networks. It does not require a Set Top Box and the redundant bandwidth available in both the incoming cables to the households gets utilized to the fullest. The LMOs, being super entrepreneurial in nature, willing to offer TELCO equivalent services at the lowest possible prices and having 5 Gbps pipe to every subscriber, can apply this technology to stay ahead in the competition. This is future proof and CAS also can be implemented on this.

The Reality: The LMOs today have got a choice to grow their networks on a phased manner keeping in mind their ROI & without loosing out their identities.

P.K.Acharya 

Konark Communications Pvt. Ltd.

Source: http://cablequest.org/articles/broadcast-technology/item/1298-vas-by-cable-operators.htmlSource: http://cablequest.org/articles/broadcast-technology/item/1298-vas-by-cable-operators.html