The consultancy service MRG has confirmed that Europe will continue being the world’s fastest-growing IPTV market through 2011. What will be next? MRG says that China will reach the developed Europe in a short time. The list includes other places where there will be multiple endeavors: Eastern Europe and Russia, which are experiencing strong growth and Asia is expected to once again put things in their place, as a pioneer, between 2012 and 2013. In the United States, IPTV services provided by Verizon and AT&T are growing faster than expected, although the development is still incipient, stressed the researcher. MRG expects that in 2011, Verizon will be the largest operator of IPTV world and speaking technically: MPEG-4/AVC will replace MPEG-2 in the middle term.

Len Feldman, IPTV analysis director of MRG, assured that estimates reveal substantial increases of global subscribers in 2011, mainly in China, India and Korea. Furthermore, the research company estimates that the number of subscriptions will go from 13.5 million in 2007 to 72.6 million in 2011, with an annual growth of 40%.

 ¿And how about Latin America in terms of projections? Although it does not bear the same problem as digital TV the development of IPTV faces more regulatory obstacles compared to technology, especially in countries with great potential and a high number of inhabitants.

In Argentina, as we all know it is unlikely to think of IPTV. The current government will not allow Telecom or Telefónica carry out “not now or ever” IPTV operations because both Telcos were forbidden to hire representatives when they became incumbent companies, as the Federal Committee for Broadcasting sustained. Nevertheless, both companies are constantly asking authorities to revoke this prohibition, no later than mid-2008. It is expected that the pressure will intensify once the city of Buenos Aires, with the highest purchasing power, begins to receive fixed telephone offers from cable operators, starting with Telecentro in January and then Multicanal-Cablevisión belonging to Grupo Clarín in mid-year.

In Brazil, for the moment, there is no regulation and there will not be one until the Brasilia legislative routine reopens next year. Furthermore pressures from Telcos continue intensifying with every passing day. IPTV is already making its debut, but in a very limited way, such as VOD (Brasil Telecom, Oi), which are not allowed to seriously compete with the multi-offer of cable operators. According to analysts, Brazil will not have a green light on the matter until June or July.

Mexico, another major market, will probably see the debut through a large-scale offer in mid-2008. As is well known, the clash between Telmex-government should reach an outcome before the end of the first quarter.

Only Chile has taken the step and Colombia will follow. The plans of CANTV Venezuela have changed and at what moment the technology will debut next year in the country is still not known. In Central America there are slow movements with a potential of very small developments.

In short, very little and almost insignificant, Latin America, more than with any other technology, the delay in IPTV is perceived compared to the rest of the countries, on the other hand, this delay, in the opinion of many technicians, will allow the region reach 2011 with the best technology and with little investment.