It's funny how things come full circle. Watching my daughter complete her homework recently reminded me how homework never truly ends. If anything, it gets more intense. Homework is multiplying for telecom carriers in the form of due diligence on IPTV solutions. Multiple options are rapidly coming to market, creating both positive and negative effects for telcos.

The compelling application of IPTV and its eager acceptance as a competitive tool for telcos has led to the launch of a variety of new IPTV-related products and services — some of which hold tangible value; others may be “smoke and mirrors.” Choosing the right vendor partners and technical solutions is critical for a successful IPTV deployment. The margin for error is relatively small and tends to be magnified for independents. They don't have the ability to absorb costly mistakes like their larger carrier brethren.

Of course, we've seen this before. Most telecom evolutionary trends launch a new wave of applications and endless solutions providers. The telecom industry is no stranger to due diligence. The difference with IPTV is the magnitude of the implications on independent telcos. Sink millions into the wrong IPTV solution, and they may never recover. The capex hit is hard enough, but compound that with delays in getting to market and stumbling with subscribers — it adds up to the competition enjoying lunch on the independent's tab. Independent telcos must ask themselves:

• Will I have the correct content distribution rights only if needed?
• Do my vendor partners have the financial wherewithal to last over the long term?
• Will I be using non-proprietary solutions that won't pigeonhole me in the future?
• Will my middleware be flexible and robust enough to support evolving applications and features?
• Will my conditional access and digital rights management solutions meet the requirements of Hollywood and adequately prevent revenue-depleting piracy?
• Will I be able to distribute MPEG-4 and other advanced encoding schemes?
• Will I be able to meet the growing appetite for video-on-demand, digital video recorders and other interactive applications?
• Will I be left holding the bag with outdated set-top boxes?

The list is long because the stakes are high. Telcos must address these issues and many more, without suffering from analysis paralysis. The IPTV buzz has and will continue to fuel new vendor options, and its wake will be littered with solutions that were well intentioned and made for great PowerPoint presentations, but lacked substance. Navigating that potential minefield will require a commitment to due diligence and a little luck. Just what we need — more homework.