IPTV to get multicast functionality after Spain's CNMC intervention

Spain's National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has approved the modification of Telefonica's local NEBA service to include new multicast functionality for IPTV. The functionality will allow alternative operators to save costs on television broadcasts of their broadband offers and broadcast standard definition, high definition and ultra high definition or 4K television channels.

Multicast allows optimizing the transmission of IPTV in a network, whereas, in the case of local NEBA, it allows the alternative operator to send Telefónica a bandwidth independent of the number of users watching each TV channel. At present, the service already allows the provision of IP television, even without multicast functionality but as soon as this functionality gets operational, costs can be further optimized, especially in massive live sporting events.

Telefónica now has 8 months to develop the multicast functionality as approved in the reference offer, and then 2 months to implement the channel configuration of the operators that want to participate in the final phase of the tests, which imply a pre-commercial availability It will last 3 months. After that phase, the functionality will be commercially available, the regulator said in a press release.

The functionality is expected to reach a high number of users, due to the high use of both local NEBA and convergent packages with IP television.

(With inputs from CNMC press release)