IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television, and is a type of television service that streams video over an internet connection to your home’s TV set. It is different from traditional broadcast television, which sends signals through radio waves and into your home’s antenna. Instead, IPTV uses a computer network that transmits television programs from a central server to your home over a private Internet connection.
Streaming content via the Internet is growing in popularity because it allows you to watch any program that you want, whenever you want. It can also be a lot cheaper than cable or satellite TV. You can even buy a small set-top box (STB) that is connected to your Internet router and decodes the packets of streamed video you receive on your screen.
The BBC iPlayer is an example of a popular ABENNEMENT IPTV service that delivers programming from several television and radio channels over the Internet. It doesn’t offer live broadcasts, but you can watch programs that have been recorded in the past seven days and are available for you to stream on demand.
Most IPTV services work with a broadband Internet connection, but some require a fiber optic or other high-speed internet line that can handle bandwidths of 10 times or more than ADSL. Some companies such as Google Fiber are offering IPTV services in a few cities where they can offer up to 1 gigabit-speed internet and more than 290 channels through a fiber network.
How it works
IPTV works on a variety of Internet protocols, but mainly uses Internet Group Management Protocol for live broadcasts and Real-Time Streaming Protocol for on-demand programs. It also uses IP multicasting and multicast listener discovery to send streams from a remote provider’s server to a client device such as a TV set or STB.
It can use a global network of servers that maintain synchronized copies of the same data, so that a user in one country will get the same program as someone in another country, for example. This helps to reduce lag time and increase viewing experience.
When you want to watch a program, you tell your IPTV provider what you’re going to watch. They will send the stream over their secure, private network to a gateway on your end, which is usually a set-top box that you connect to your TV.
The STB decodes the packets of streamed data and then sends them to your high-definition TV. Alternatively, you can connect your STB to your PC and watch the show on a computer screen or download it directly from the provider’s website.
While many IPTV providers provide a free trial period, others charge a monthly fee for access to their service. They may also offer additional services, such as live streaming.
What you pay for is dependent on your location and the number of features you wish to have. It’s important to read through reviews before signing up for an IPTV service.
You should also consider the customer support that the service offers. Make sure that the provider has a phone number and an email address for you to contact them if you have any questions or problems.
