Deploying IPTV in the lab or in trial is one thing-deploying it on a mass scale to hundreds of thousands of residential users in the real world with adequate QoS is another. The key is the ability to accommodate higher bandwidth requirements in the access and backbone networks, services flexibility, and QoS guarantees. Doing this cost-effectively while maximizing network performance and capacity is the main challenge facing service providers.

This session addresses technology advances for making mass-market IPTV a reality. We will look at alternatives and strategies for upgrading the access and metro networks to accommodate the service agility and dynamic infrastructure needed for IPTV, VoD, and personalized services while enabling carriers to control costs. Such technologies include carrier Ethernet in tandem with optical network elements that allow for a smooth evolution from legacy SONET/SDH systems, accommodating growing traffic levels in the access, metro, and regional segments. Service provider case studies will be examined, with an eye toward lessons learned, business models, and strategies for moving forward.

Danny Berko Director, Solutions Marketing , Broadband Access ECI Telecom

Mr. Berko is responsible for ECI's broadband solutions architectures and transport services, including networking, services-enabling solutions and build-up of a service-rich eco-system to support IPTV, NG-Voice, mobile and home environment. He has more than 10 years of extensive and varied experience in the telecommunications and networking industries. In prior positions, he has served as sales and marketing engineer, product line manager, and director of marketing.

Joseph Sim Assistant Vice President, Regional Sales and Marketing PCCW International

Mr. Sim is currently spearheading the regional sales and marketing efforts in the Asia Pacific region in the areas of IPTV Business and Operations, Network Operations Outsourcing, Network Technology and Solutions Deployment. He joined PCCW in 2001 as a Business Associate and has since been involved in various Business Development and Product Marketing resposibilities within the organization. Mr. Sim has also supported in the series of product development and innovations like PCCW New Generation Fixed Lines and now TV service creation which were fundamental to PCCW in creating a successful quadruple-play platform and strategy.

Geof Heydon Director of Innovation and Market Development, Australasia and North Asia Alcatel-Lucent

Mr. Heydon has regional responsibility for business development and a key responsibility for services and IP transformation market development, engaging with strategic customers across the region. He joined Alcatel in 1994, bringing with him more than two decades of telecommunications experience. Since then he has held a number of senior positions, including responsibility for broadband applications such as IPTV and content for Alcatel in the Asia-Pacific. Mr. Heydon is an industry expert on future fixed and mobile services and a central member of Alcatel's strategic team. He holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Technology in Sydney.

Harish Lalapeth Principal Consultant Tech Mahindra

Mr. Lalapeth heads the technology group for Network Services and Performance Engineering and brings rich experience to the OSS domain. He has more than 17 years of experience in IT and telecom and has been actively involved in proposing end-to-end IPTV service delivery solutions to service providers in the Asia-Pacific, India, and Europe. Mr. Lalapeth's group has contributed significantly to the IPTV rollout of a leading tier-1 service provider in Europe. He has a master's in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, India.

Ron Westfall Research Director, Access and Applications Current Analysis

Mr. Westfall is responsible for tracking the evolution of DSL access, cable access, triple play, and IP service edge/BRAS platforms. He is frequently consulted on technology issues by trade and business media, including NetworkWorld, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investors Business Daily, Telecommunications Magazine, Inter@ctive Week, CNET, Light Reading, Fox-TV, CBS-TV, Supercomm TV, and CBC Radio. Mr. Westfall holds a bachelor's degree in government/philosophy from the College of William and Mary and a master's degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.