Triple Play products

The future lies with Triple Play. This is how the prospects for Triple Play could be described, using current findings as a basis. Experts and consumers alike are particularly enamored of Triple Play offerings. But how is this popularity to be rated? The predicted number of Triple Play product users provides an answer.

In a nutshell: the broadband Internet would be unthinkable without Triple Play! Broadband experts expect extremely dynamic growth over the coming years in this segment. Accordingly, between 2005 and 2010 the number of Triple Play users will jump by a factor of 17 (Figure 13). This represents an impressive development that highlights the special significance of Triple Play for the future broadband market.

Figure 13:		Development of Triple Play user numbers (broadband experts)9

Given the strong projected growth of the Triple Play market, it is important to know which applications need to be incorporated by future VDSL/Triple Play offerings. Broadband experts deliver a clear verdict on this issue: Internet telephony - VoIP (voice over the Internet) - is an absolute must for all future VDSL/Triple Play offerings.

And, needless to say, content is also an issue. Indeed, content plays a fundamental role. Consequently, three out of the six most important components for VDSL/Triple Play products are television-based, i.e. Video on Demand, HDTV (high definition TV) and Internet TV (Figure 14).

Figure 14:		VDSL/Triple Play components (broadband experts)

Internet telephony plays a crucial role in VDSL and Triple Play. Broadband experts regard integrated consumer equipment that connects to the available networks anytime and anyplace as a major driver for the continued expansion of Internet telephony (Figure 15).

In addition, the smooth crossover between the VoIP, landline and other networks as well as accessibility under a single number independent of place and equipment are important for the expansion of Internet telephony.

Figure 15:		Drivers of expansion of Internet telephony (broadband experts)

Some type of end device is needed for VDSL and Triple Play. For years experts have been discussing what kind of unit will set the standard. In view of the convergence of technologies and applications, the term "media center" is gaining in popularity. The media center is an integrated device that incorporates TV, VCR, DVD player, stereo system and PC. What we are talking about here is a universal digital control center.

Broadband experts estimate that the TV set-top-box combined with a digital VCR will be the dominant media center for digital content (Figure 16). PCs come second, followed by game consoles.

Figure 16:		Consumer equipment used for digital content (broadband experts)

It has already been stated that attractive content is of overriding importance for VDSL/Triple Play products. Correspondingly, three out of the six most important elements for VDSL/Triple Play products are TV-related, i.e. Video on Demand, HDTV and IP-based TV. This also means that TV will slowly migrate to the Internet. We will take a closer look at the form which new Internet TV is going to take in the next chapter.