Improving multiplay content delivery by optimizing IPTV networks, provisioning and remote management are crucial strategic objective work areas for the Broadband Forum as it moves into 2010, according to Forum Marketing Director Laurie Gonzalez, who is addressing the TelcoTV conference in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday.

The Forum, whose mission is to develop the full potential broadband, completed a union with the IP/MPLS Forum earlier this year and now has a membership of more than 200 of the world’s leading service providers, equipment manufacturers, chip vendors and other key organizations. Much of its specifications work over the past few years has centered around improving speed options and Quality of Service for IPTV delivery, and earlier this year it announced the approval of its latest IPTV-related Technical Report, TR-127. This new specification created - for the first time – the opportunity for network operators and independent test labs to carry out a system level test across four key IPTV network elements; the DSLAM, the CPE modem, the Central Office Splitter and the CPE Splitter. Testing splitters as part of a complete system will prevent disturbance of the video signal by a telephone signal on the same line-an important development that provides stability like never before.

Ms Gonzalez will show the audience how IPTV has continued its steady impressive growth despite the economic downturn, with North America now home to nearly 20 percent of all IPTV subscribers. The last 12 months has been particularly significant, with IPTV growth for the region, including Central and South America, hitting 86 percent.

She will also outline the Broadband Forum strategic objectives beyond IPTV. They include:

• Facilitating broadband network coverage through shared architecture, responsive management and common interconnection standards
• Defining common CPE specifications for all online device types for better provisioning, maintenance and end user experience
• Empowering global energy reduction measures by developing standard broadband energy efficiency tests and establishing CO and CPE systems requirements specs
• Ensuring IPv4 to IPv6 migration success
• Stimulating MPLS use in Mobile Backhaul, Carrier Ethernet and other solutions
• Fostering VDSL2 and PON interoperability
• Developing certification to advance interoperability in several areas

She will explain the wider scope of the Broadband Forum and also talk about the BroadbandSuite – the Forum’s Release Plan – which is divided into three major domains of broadband; management, the network and the user. She will outline the benefits the Broadband Forum has already delivered in all three areas so far, with its Broadband 3.0 release and reveal some of the latest improvements soon to be launched with the next release – BroadbandSuite 3.1.

Come and see Laurie Gonzalez's presentation at TelcoTV, November 12 at 12:30