IPTV will fly, says iSuppli

GOOD NEWS for BT, and maybe even for users, as iSuppli predicts that IPTV will grow rapidly in a new report.

OK, so the curve is of the classic graceful skyward arm movement variety like the accompaniment to a Frenchman's shrug, and we won't remember to check whether the numbers really do grow from 5.3 million subscribers this year to 63.1 million in 2010, but it's still a pretty positive message that iSuppli is sending out, and iSuppli is building a strong reputation for electronics market intelligence.

Specifically, the firm suggests that integration with voice/data services, interactivity and value-added services will see IPTV become a success. Europe is off to a flier but Americans will beat us on the sainted ARPU - average revenue per user -- metric this year, iSuppli forecasts.

BT is obviously a believer. The UK telecoms incumbent is currently adding trial IPTV users ahead of a launch in the autumn.

Others, naturally, are not so positive and are suspicious of telcos' abilities to execute. µ