| How will the industry address the confusion about competing HD surveillance local-site transport solutions? |
HDcctv Alliance 2014/2015 Review and Forecast:
2014 was another good year: Video surveillance equipment unit sales continued to grow slightly above the 7 percent compound annual growth rate of recent years. Notably, 2014 was the first year that HD cameras that are as reliable, as convenient, and as affordable as sub-HD NTSC cameras became widely available. As a result, the migration from sub-HD to HD surveillance really took off in 2014.
As more and more installers take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade easily and affordably to HD security video, we expect overall surveillance equipment sales to exceed recent trend growth rates.
How will the industry address the confusion about competing HD surveillance local-site transport solutions? While Ethernet was the only way to move HD video within buildings in 2009, many specialised alternatives have been developed recently, including both digital HD (originally based on HD-SDI) and analogue HD (originally based on HDCVI).
In 2015, it is likely that buyers considering reliability and affordability will continue to show a preference for the specialised HD solutions. Customers with challenging legacy cabling may prefer analog HD. Customers demanding bit-perfect HD video are likely to prefer digital HD. Meanwhile, customers with special needs, for example higher-than-1080p resolution, will continue to rely on Ethernet transmission.
The HDcctv Alliance continues to lead the standardisation and popularisation of specialised local-site transmission solutions for HD surveillance. Technology change has led to evolution in the Alliance membership, and a new generation of industry leaders is driving the on-going effort.
The HDcctv Alliance will continue to educate buyers and industry insiders about the options for HD surveillance local-site transport. The Alliance anticipates substantial progress on the HDcctv DT 3.0 and HDCVI 3.0 standards, which will impact the equipment market in subsequent years, as they provide for 4K video, Power over Cable, and more.
In an environment of accelerating market growth, 2015 will be a watershed year for new business opportunities around HD surveillance. Security professionals have the opportunity to create enduring value for customers by guiding them through rapid technology changes.
See the full coverage of 2014/2015 Review and Forecast articles here