Service providers have been hearing discussions for several years regarding the technical issues for delivering pay-TV services. They understand the technology - now they need to know that the technology has moved beyond the discussion stage and can actually be implemented. Service providers can learn how to take advantage of recent advances in both TV delivery and computing/networking technologies to deliver a profitable, successful next-generation TV offering. IPTV is not about delivering video to PCs, but about using advances in Internet technologies and networking to deliver a competitive, multi-channel pay-TV service to customer TV sets.

In this session, the speakers will discuss how service providers can build a successful IPTV business using options that include Video on Demand, linear broadcasting, Digital Video Recording (DVR), and/or Network DVR. They will discuss three fundamental features that service providers must enable:

1. an integrated solution that can support various business modules;
2. a well-developed value chain for IPTV, including home devices, encoders, network access equipment, and content); and
3. entertainment industry-accepted content delivery methods and DRM technologies to protect this content.

Eric Li
Regional Sales Director, Asia Pacific
Microsoft TV

In his current role, Mr. Li looks after Microsoft TV’s sales and marketing functions in the Asia Pacific region and leads the team that manages relationships with Microsoft TV customers in the region. Previously, Mr. Li was marketing manager at Tellabs with responsibility for the marketing of optical networking products in the Asia-Pacific region. Before joining Tellabs, Mr. Li worked at GTE in the U.S. in various engineering, sales and marketing roles.

Mel Gerst, Thomson

Andre Minn, Vice President, Network Systems Division, Samsung Electronics

Vince Pizzica, Chief Technology Officer, Alcatel Asia-Pacific, is responsible for optimizing Alcatel's research and development, intellectual property, and technological competencies in the region. He also works closely with customers on their technology strategy development. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Pizzica was chief technology officer and director of customer solutions of Alcatel in Australia. He provided overall strategic direction for the development of the company's products and services in the Australia and New Zealand markets and ensured that the solutions provided to customers were designed to deliver real business value.

Tim Sheppard, Director of Strategic Development, Tandberg TV