What type of network can IPTV be delivered over?

IPTV, or Internet Protocol Television, can be delivered over a variety of network types, including unmanaged and open networks like the Internet. This flexibility allows IPTV providers to reach a wide audience by utilizing existing Internet infrastructure, which doesn't require a dedicated or specialized network.

While IPTV can benefit from the advantages of managed networks—where service quality, bandwidth, and security can be controlled—the technology itself does not strictly depend on such networks.

However, the experience of IPTV on unmanaged networks may face challenges such as variable bandwidth, potential congestion, and quality of service issues, which can negatively impact streaming performance. Despite these challenges, the primary characteristic of IPTV is its ability to operate over any IP-based network, emphasizing its versatility and ability to reach consumers where they are, whether on private, managed, or public networks.

On the other hand, the perceptions that IPTV must exclusively operate on structured or high-quality networks like fiber-optic or solely on private LANs are limiting and do not reflect the inclusive capabilities of IPTV technology.