Home network

Historically, television was the first digital device to allow the interconnection of electronic equipment (decoders, VCRs, cameras, etc..), creating what can be termed the “TV-centric universe”.

The rapid development of the home computer, and then the internet, then made the PC the new central piece of equipment enabling interconnection of equipment and with it a new PC centric world of IT and consumer electronics emerged.

Today, by offering new hardware to be installed in homes, ISPs have the opportunity to connect to the Internet (via their “Hub” Box or Set TB) most of the PC-centric and TV-centric equipment that were previously from disparate worlds.

This is a key issue because it allows ISPs to control the central platform capable of storing, searching, managing and disseminating the widest range of content across various devices in the home.

Still reserved for “techies” until very recently, access to Home networks could quickly become mass market if several enabling factors are present:

• higher speeds of Internet access
• increase in the types of equipment that can be connected to the internet, especially TVs
• standardization progress around the interconnection systems between devices (including WiFi and USB)
• development of new services (storage, media center services, remote access, ...)

The control of digital home is therefore a key issue for many players :

• ISPs, currently masters of internet access, aim to ensure their equipment (e.g. Hub or STB) controls all multimedia services consumed in the home
• TV manufacturers are launching models incorporating the essential functions needed to develop Home Networks on "TV-centric" lines (hard drives, internet connection, connectors, ...)
• Media players are launching their own set-top boxes in the heart of the home with services which compete with

Beyond offering the best equipment and the best user experience, players who can control the customer relationship, from installation to billing to customer service and after-sales support could benefit from a decisive advantage

Greenwich Consulting is convinced that the battle for the digital home will be a major challenge for ISPs in the coming years.