Johannesburg — THE telecoms and broadcasting regulator has issued a discussion document aimed at implementing a regulatory framework for internet protocol television (IPTV).

IPTV is television content delivered through broadband internet connection. Traditionally fixed-line telecommunications service providers worldwide provide IPTV services , but they have not yet taken off in SA.

The strategy is to offer customers telephone, internet and IPTV services together - in what is referred to as triple play.

The Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) said the discussion on the IPTV regulatory framework could speed up the uptake of innovative services.

However, it also acknowledged that the limitation to this uptake could be broadband access.

In Europe IPTV is thriving as there is mass-market penetration of high speed broadband internet access at affordable prices, Icasa said.

In SA broadband penetration is estimated at 2% of the population while internet usage is still well below global levels.

One of the impediments for broadband growth is high tariffs charged by operators.

"International precedence shows that in addition to developing forward looking broadband policies, regulators also intervened in the broadband market by regulating the rates at which broadband internet access services are provided," Icasa said in the discussion document.

Through the national broadband policy, the Department of Communications plans to ensure that all citizens have access to affordable broadband infrastructure.

Steven Ambrose, an analyst at World Wide Worx, said IPTV could be a nonstarter until there was broadband access and also fibre to homes and gated areas.

"Few people in SA have access to high-speed internet at home. The current high-speed internet service is not good enough for IPTV. There should be uncapped bandwidth for IPTV," Ambrose said.

Avhasei Mukoma, a lawyer and a broadcasting, competition and regulatory policy analyst, commended Icasa's proactive move to propose IPTV regulations.

However, he said that a study to determine whether the market was ready for IPTV was vital to avoid market failures.

One of challenges faced by Icasa in regulating IPTV was that the internet was not regulated, whereas broadcasting was.

However, Icasa proposed that it would focus on content.

The deadline to submit comments is March 26.