Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 21, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The “Digital Living” sector is undergoing change: A growing number of high-performance broadband connections, the emergence of value-added online services such as IPTV and the networking of different technologies via Home Control are increasing demands and changing consumer behaviour. CONNECTIONS Europe provided, among others, the following findings:
IPTV: fiercely contested future market
The European entertainment landscape in particular is growing rapidly: With 4.5 million users, the world’s largest market for IPTV services exists here. Leading the way are telecommunications providers in countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Italy, which promote growth with value-added online services within the monthly flat-rate costs of their broadband offerings. Falling prices and a variety of services ultimately also increase user acceptance, with users additionally benefiting from greater competition among providers.
Broadband and Home Control are booming
With worldwide growth of more than 400 percent since 2004, the Home Control industry is in a boom. Due to broadband connections, the PC is taking on a central role in the home: It not only manages Internet and entertainment services, but also serves as an interface for numerous Home Control applications. The latter offer increased convenience, energy savings and high device interoperability through the shared Z-Wave communications standard.
Valuable information exchange and networking
CONNECTIONS Europe demonstrated developments and future forecasts for the IPTV, Home Control and Digital Living sector vividly and interactively. At the three-day event at the Adlon Kempinski Hotel in Berlin, visitors benefited from the communication of information through discussions, the opportunity to network with industry decision-makers and exclusive insights into new trends and technologies.
CONNECTIONS Europe took place at a strategically important point in the development of the “Digital Living” market in Europe. Kurt Scherf, analyst at Parks Associates, sums up the added value of the event: “The European market for broadband, triple play and digital video is highly competative. Service providers are tied to growth in the digital lifestyle market and assert themselves through improved service and lower prices. These conditions promote growth for home networking, converged communications services and additional extensions, from which the customer ultimately benefits.”
