What's the difference between OTT and IPTV
IPTV delivers television content using signals based on the Internet protocol (IP), through the open, unmanaged Internet with the "last-mile" telecom company acting only as the Internet service provider (ISP). As described above, "Internet television" is "over-the-top technology" (OTT). Both IPTV and OTT use the Internet protocol over a packet-switched network to transmit data, but IPTV operates in a closed system—a dedicated, managed network controlled by the local cable, satellite, telephone, or fiber-optic company.
In comparison, OTT (over-the-top) video services use the publicly accessible Internet to deliver video streams. Such content is not just available via set-top-boxes, but also via any devices that can access the Internet – such as phones, tablets and smart TVs with a broadband connection. Popular OTT services include Netflix and Hulu.
At the end of the day operators can choose between IPTV and OTT or decide for the combination of both. Below are some the key differences:
| Comparison Category | OTT ( Over the Top) | IPTV ( Internet Protocol TV) |
| Content Delivery | Uses open internet, un-managed network. Open ecosystem |
Uses dedicated, managed network. Walled garden ecosystem |
| Network Type | Delivered from content provider / aggregator to the viewer using open network. Usage of CDN |
Closed, proprietary network, accessed via a specific internet service provider |
| Network Relationship | Without the need for intervening carriage negotiations, or infrastructure investments |
Services are delivered on optimized and custom high bandwidth network |
| Service Examples | Popular Video on Demand services like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon LoveFilm, Hulu, Sky Go, BBC iPlayer etc. |
IPTV services like U-Verse (AT&T), Prism TV (CenturyLink) |
| Delivery Protocol | Delivered over HTTP / TCP, a connected transport protocol. Movement towards adaptive streaming technologies HLS (Apple), Smooth Streaming (MS) and HDS (Adobe) |
IPTV uses Transport Stream (TS) transmission technology. Uses RTP (Real time protocol) over UDP, a connectionless protocol |
| Content Catalog | Widely used for freemium and economical subscription VOD |
Used primarily for premium VOD and real time content delivery like broadcast TV |
| Routing Topology | Unicast (HTTP), Simulated Multicast (UDP/TCP) |
Multicast. Initial unicast burst during channel change leading to Multicast join |
| Service Category | Complementary Service | Main service, similar to Satellite/ Cable TV services |
| Major Platform Players | OVP (Online Video Platforms) like Kaltura, Brightcove, CDN Players like Akamai, L3, Limelight, Cloud Service Providers like Amazon |
TSP ( Telecom Service Providers) and IPTV platform vendors - Microsoft Mediaroom ( now Ericsson), ALU, Cisco |
| Key Benefits | Low cost, flexible model, Easy to manage and operate |
High quality of service and quality of experience. Monitoring and control, interactive services |
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