Digital
homes have been around as a concept in the
region for a long time but will soon become
reality.
A digital home is fully automated, has a network
of consumer electronics, mobile and PC devices
that cooperate transparently and simplify
usability in the home.
All computing devices and home appliances
conform to the same standard system in a digital
home so that everything can be controlled by a
computer. Network sockets are installed in every
room like AC power receptacles.
"Piracy is an issue in this space as television
is available free through satellite dishes.
There is a perception that TV is free which is a
problem. But the internet protocol television (IPTV)
is all about creating a package for the customer
customised according to his need. Consumers
today are ready to pay for quality therefore the
operator has to deliver a compelling
proposition," said Ian Wilkinson, IPTV Solutions
Marketing Manager, Middle East & Africa,
Motorola Home & Networks Mobility.
"Another reason digital homes has not been
implemented is lack of standards. More than the
price of the deployment it is about the devices
communicating with each other."
For devices to connect with each other, it is
important to set a standard so that different
vendor products can communicate. "Earlier it was
difficult for a Motorola device to communicate
with a Nokia but with DLNA (digital living
network alliance), it is possible now. Consumers
don't want to know the technical details as he
should be able to connect to everything. DLNA
now allows devices to talk to each other," added
Wilkinson.
At the IPTV forum in Dubai, vendors like
Motorola are talking to operators to create a
better environment.
"In fact, du was among the first ones in the
region to venture into the IPTV space. They were
the pioneers and they were present that early
for a particular reason as there were a lot of
developments happening in Dubai. IPTV along with
on-demand solutions are able to deliver
television as the consumer prefers it," said
Wilkinson.
Motorola also did a research on the region
targeting the 19-26 age group, which they call
the millennial generation, on mobile TV and its
interests in the region.
"They were completely receptive to the concept
and the only concern was the battery life of the
mobile phone. Price was not of a primary
concern," he said.
At the IPTV forum, there were a lot of players
focusing on triple play platforms, which
facilitates digital homes. These companies were
from US, Europe and also Cyprus. Triple play
provisions two broadband services, high speed
internet access and television, and one narrow
band service, telephone over a single broadband
connection.
Primetel is one such company from Cyprus, which
specialises on triple play and has participated
in the IPTV forum for the first time. Theodosis
Theodosiou, Manager, Regulatory Affairs and
Interconnect Department, said: "We are here to
look for partners and believe that the market is
mature enough for triple play and also quad
play. In a country like Cyprus, the penetration
is so high in a short period. With mobile
convergence happening quad play and triple play
will gain relevance."
As international companies look at setting base
in the region, local partners are cashing on the
opportunity. Tony Fernando, Managing Director,
ITSthe1 Solutions, said: "Dubai Marina was one
of the first real estate projects where we were
all set to implement digital homes. The
blueprints were also ready but the project
didn't take off. We had fridges talking and
making grocery lists, it sounds like science
fiction but it was true.
"We have seen that interest again from real
estate developers as the bids are out,
particularly from the developers of villas,
where consumers spend up to Dh20 million and
don't want wires all over their homes."
Digital
homes have been around as a concept in the
region for a long time but will soon become
reality.
