Telecom network operators that neglect test and measurement in their rollouts of IPTV run the risk of doing irreparable damage to their long-term business plans by failing to deliver the quality of experience (QOE) that subscribers expect from video service providers, according to the latest report published by Light Reading Insider, a paid research subscription service of Light Reading Inc..

IPTV Test and Measurement: Who's Doing What delivers a complete analysis of the technical issues affecting IPTV QOE and how developers of test and measurement products are tackling those issues. The report covers the full spectrum of IPTV test and measurement, including pre-deployment lab test, post-deployment diagnostics, 24/7 monitoring, and umbrella monitoring systems.

The report includes Light Reading's first-ever taxonomy of IPTV test and measurement products and vendors, offering a clear roadmap to the sectors of the IPTV test market that suppliers are targeting. Nearly 20 leading IPTV test and measurement vendors are profiled and analyzed in the report, including incumbents Agilent Technologies, JDS Uniphase, Spirent Communications, and Tektronix, as well as startups focused exclusively on the IPTV test sector.

"Subscribers aren't likely to tolerate problems with IPTV service because of the quality standards set by established cable and satellite video providers," notes James Crawshaw, Contributing Analyst for Light Reading Insider and author of the report. "As operators launch IPTV, they must ensure that quality is consistently acceptable, or they could face an increase in customer churn."

Although testing performed in the labs and during installation can significantly reduce the incidence of problems, some problems will only surface once IPTV is deployed in the field, Crawshaw adds. "Operators need to have continuous monitoring systems in place from the moment they launch their IPTV services," he says.

Key findings of the report include:

• Service providers need test and measurement tools to select the best network elements and to monitor them once deployed.
• Inadequate monitoring of IPTV service could lead to higher opex and more customer churn.
• The IPTV lab test market is currently strong; the network monitoring market should take off starting in 2008.
• Test and measurement vendors with expertise in IP, voice, and video will be best positioned for triple-play deployments.

IPTV Test and Measurement: Who's Doing What, a 29-page report, is available as part of an annual subscription (12 monthly issues) to Light Reading Insider, priced at $1,350. Individual reports are available for $900.