IPTV is being used as a useful weapon by fixed-line broadband providers as they continue the battle against competing technologies such as Wi-Fi and mobile broadband.

That is the view of Julian Herbert, principal analyst at Informa, who was speaking at the Informa Mobile, Broadband & TV Industry Outlook conference in London yesterday (Thursday, November 27th).

Mr Herbret has suggested that IPTV may well be the saving grace for fixed-line broadband, as the sector looks to hang on to its customers.

Silicon.com quoted him as saying: "Telcos probably are beginning to think they can't live without it [IPTV] in the current circumstances.

"IPTV has had a direct effect on the rate of fixed line decline and has... incrementally increased revenue overall."

Mr Herbert went on to point out that IPTV can influence customers to stay with a provider rather than plan a switch.

Media Week recently suggested that the ongoing recession could mean that advances in IPTV are put off until next year.