IPTV Platform Vendor Profile: ZTE
ZTE’s core IPTV offering has been stable since 2008. Since then, its major thrust in this area has been to move from numerous trials to large-scale deployment. It now boasts experience with deployment at scale that it claims translates to faster rollout.
ZTE claims leading market share in Asia on the strength of its Chinese user base. However, it has moved away from messaging about IPTV to focus on the more fashionable topics of machine-to-machine communications and mobile broadband. At the same time, its next strategic target is success in developed Western markets, where its domestic success is discounted.
We believe ZTE can market its IPTV strengths to improve its international image. True, scale is one example of the ways its offering is optimized for the domestic Chinese market, and some people literally discount numbers by a “China factor”. Yet ZTE can instead focus on the fact that the global market as a whole has moved in the last few years towards its strengths in file-based, integrated SIP/IMS-based video, content distribution networks (CDNs), and home networking.
In addition, ZTE can leverage its experience as a bearer network equipment provider into its IPTV solution by placing emphasis on its CDN capabilities.
It can claim a differentiator in having its own home gateway devices – a position shared only by Cisco and Huawei. It should also be well positioned for the convergence of mobile video and IPTV given that it offers mobile handsets as well.
Both the CDN and the consumer devices areas are critical strategic battlefronts for telecom operators as they seek to retain value in the face of strong over-the-top competition.
ZTE claims leading market share in Asia on the strength of its Chinese user base. However, it has moved away from messaging about IPTV to focus on the more fashionable topics of machine-to-machine communications and mobile broadband. At the same time, its next strategic target is success in developed Western markets, where its domestic success is discounted.
We believe ZTE can market its IPTV strengths to improve its international image. True, scale is one example of the ways its offering is optimized for the domestic Chinese market, and some people literally discount numbers by a “China factor”. Yet ZTE can instead focus on the fact that the global market as a whole has moved in the last few years towards its strengths in file-based, integrated SIP/IMS-based video, content distribution networks (CDNs), and home networking.
In addition, ZTE can leverage its experience as a bearer network equipment provider into its IPTV solution by placing emphasis on its CDN capabilities.
It can claim a differentiator in having its own home gateway devices – a position shared only by Cisco and Huawei. It should also be well positioned for the convergence of mobile video and IPTV given that it offers mobile handsets as well.
Both the CDN and the consumer devices areas are critical strategic battlefronts for telecom operators as they seek to retain value in the face of strong over-the-top competition.
Executive summary
In a nutshell
Ovum view
Analysis of competitive position
Overall rating
Key changes affecting ZTE since 2008
Strategic analysis of offering
International growth is new priority
IPTV is now one of multiple services under video umbrella
Domestic application partners may be path to stronger international branding
ZTE believes in listening to the customer, not leading the customer
IPTV platform positioning
Home network presence is an advantage
Roadmap aligned with Chinese market needs
Customers and subscribers
Focus on growing subscribers at existing customers
Company information
Business focus
Financial highlights
Organization
Corporate strategy
Partners
Solution components
Details about ZTE’s IPTV solution
New for 2010
Headend
Content distribution: ZTE BIV CDN system
Devices
Middleware
Quality assurance and network management
User experience features
System integration services
Content and applications
Videoconferencing
Vendor assessment definitions
Offering characterized by design choices
Ratings defined
In a nutshell
Ovum view
Analysis of competitive position
Overall rating
Key changes affecting ZTE since 2008
Strategic analysis of offering
International growth is new priority
IPTV is now one of multiple services under video umbrella
Domestic application partners may be path to stronger international branding
ZTE believes in listening to the customer, not leading the customer
IPTV platform positioning
Home network presence is an advantage
Roadmap aligned with Chinese market needs
Customers and subscribers
Focus on growing subscribers at existing customers
Company information
Business focus
Financial highlights
Organization
Corporate strategy
Partners
Solution components
Details about ZTE’s IPTV solution
New for 2010
Headend
Content distribution: ZTE BIV CDN system
Devices
Middleware
Quality assurance and network management
User experience features
System integration services
Content and applications
Videoconferencing
Vendor assessment definitions
Offering characterized by design choices
Ratings defined
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Ovum’s overall rating of ZTE’s IPTV platform offering
Table 2: Table 2 IPTV consumer feature ratings for ZTE*
Table 3: IPTV service provider feature ratings for ZTE*
Table 4: Assessment criteria by spider-chart axis
Table 1: Ovum’s overall rating of ZTE’s IPTV platform offering
Table 2: Table 2 IPTV consumer feature ratings for ZTE*
Table 3: IPTV service provider feature ratings for ZTE*
Table 4: Assessment criteria by spider-chart axis
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: IPTV orientation
Figure 1: IPTV orientation
