Multicast TV Channels over Wireless Neutral Access Networks

IP Television (IPTV) is commonly considered to be the killer application for next-generation networks (NGNs). There is, however, a chicken and egg situation between the deployment of broadband access networks and the diffusion of high quality multimedia services, such as high definition television, which actually impairs the development of NGNs. As a matter of fact, most existing access infrastructures are still under-provisioned and they provide no suitable support to the widespread diffusion of global Internet TV channels, while wireless access networks are sprouting worldwide to provide nomadic connectivity and to bridge digital divide in sparsely populated regions. In this scenario, IPTV services are delivered only within the walled gardens of biggest wireline operators and they are far away from reaching the critical mass required to attract investments in NGNs. This paper proposes technological and architectural solutions which enable the widespread diffusion of Internet TV channels over existing wireless access networks, thus overcoming the deadlock between services and infrastructures and paving the way to NGNs. In particular, the paper addresses both technological and market issues and presents the results of a real-world experiment conducted within the wireless campus of the University of Urbino.