Vendor keeps its eyes on network expansion as subscribers expected to top 63 million by 2010

The anticipated growth of IPTV over the next few years will create opportunities in network expansion for the channel, according to vendor Meriton Networks.

Last month, CRN reported that the number of IPTV subscribers is expected to top 63 million by 2010 (CRN, 25 September).

US-based Meriton Networks has been around for six years, and has had a UK presence for four years. The vendor classes Alcatel, Sienna and Huawai among its main competitors in the UK.

Phil Keddie, general manager of EMEA operations at Meriton, told CRN: “We don’t deliver IPTV solutions, we deliver products that can add capacity to exhausted networks. IPTV requires a high amount of bandwidth. We can expand existing networks within companies so that they can then deploy IPTV or other services.

“We are under-distributed in the UK, so we are looking for more partners. Ideally we want VARs or system integrators with networking backgrounds, but we would talk to those with the right partnering attitudes.”

Colin Farquhar, chief executive of IPTV vendor Exterity, said: “The biggest issue regarding the deployment of IPTV in a building is ensuring the network is set up to handle it. IPTV not only needs a lot of bandwidth, but the network also needs to be managed correctly, so any tools that help do this can only be a positive move.”