The IP video surveillance opportunity, part three: Government

The evolution of video surveillance systems into more intelligent IP-based systems is creating opportunities for telecom service providers to enter the space with managed service offerings. (See parts one and two of this series on cracking the enterprise and small business markets.) But perhaps one of the most fertile verticals in this market is the government sector.

In a recent report, Frost & Sullivan sited government and education sectors as “the end-user markets that have been most active in installing complete network video surveillance solutions.”

The potential role of telecom service providers in this sector is becoming clearer as their own equipment suppliers lead the way, teaming up with IP video specialists.

Vigilant Technology, a 10-year-old vendor of IP video surveillance systems, has teamed up with access equipment vendor Telco Systems since the latter’s parent company, Israeli-based BATM, acquired Vigilant last year. Telco Systems is now trying to help Vigilant penetrate the telecom carrier market in the US in particular.

“The Telco Systems relationship has given us the opportunity to talk to carriers in more meaningful way,” said Mark Novak, Vigilant’s commercial director.

Vigilant sells a range of modular elements in the video space, including video encoders, storage devices (and devices that interface with third-party storage gear) and video players that allow viewing across multiple locations, automatically adjusting for each site’s available bandwidth.

In the US to date, Vigilant has had the most success selling to casinos. But going forward, the company sees government customers as one of its most promising verticals.

“[Governments] represent the largest single sector we do business with in Europe,” Novak said.