CTV TELECOM, Panamanian network created from the very beginning to provide IPTV to residential customers will launch this week its offer in the Metropolitan area of the capital of the country. Juan McKenzie, director of the company, explained to Convergencialatina that on August 15 they began with presentations for potential customers and that by the end of 2007 they expect to achieve 3 thousand subscribers. Pay TV offer will include more than 100 channels capable of transmitting in SDTV and HDTV. Moreover, it will provide telephone, video conference, Internet, VOD, PPV, games and other interactive services such as online purchase and payment of bills.
CTV TELECOM was created in April 2007 and it forged an alliance with Sonitel and Kassena, (that provided its infrastructure, made together with Intel and HP) like partners for IPTV solution. It has also established agreements with Cisco, Amino and Tandberg. Alessio Hagen, consumption marketing manager for Latin America of Intel, said to Convergencialatina that his company provided backend solutions with servers Sion and Itanium, with the purpose of digitalizing contents for Video on Demand (VOD). Moreover, he pointed out that they offer the concept “Tivo” that allows storing contents to be recorded in the set top boxes.
In turn, McKenzie explained that CTV Telecom holds a 84 kilometer own optic fiber laying in the metropolitan area with which they reach end customers, being able to offer a digital platform with interactivity. He also assured that the company holds a national license and that in 2008 it will begin to expand laying to the rest of the country. Regarding channel contents available in IPTV, the director of CTV Telecom mentioned that they are under negotiations with most important companies of the sector but he did not reveal names.
Although Panama does not have specific legislation ruling the new services such as IPTV or Triple Play, Manuel Troitiño, National Director of Telecommunications of the ASEP, assured that the regulatory entity does not hinder the development and he added that the standard in force is applied to services, beyond the way in which they are accessed.
According to Informa Telecoms & Media Forecast, IPTV Market in Latin America will reach US$ 525 million by 2011. Alesio Hagen said that by that date, IPTV will be present worldwide and that the service will migrate towards mobility. Regarding the situation in Latin America, Intel executive said that IPTV will be a reality when Triple Play is ruled and it increases the broadband penetration with transmission rates of 10 Mbps.