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Significant Growth of Indian Surveillance Camera Market Forecast

Internet-protocol cameras will gain a significant share of that market.

Because of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the Indian market for security and surveillance products is likely to expand beyond the 30 percent per-year growth it has experienced, with internet-protocol (IP) cameras gaining a significant share of that market, says Dax Networks Limited, an Internet services and solution provider.

Physical security is an essential investment that no Indian enterprise can afford to disregard, Dax says in a whitepaper. Surveillance is an essential aspect of that and any such system should also be able to address everything from pilferage to theft and even terrorism, the whitepaper says.

India is a frequent target of terrorists and has borne the maximum number of attacks in the world, according to Dax. Following the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai, all quarters of society, including the government, businesses and individuals are investing significant amounts in installing and upgrading their security infrastructure. The heightened awareness is providing an added boost to the security and surveillance systems industry, which has historically grown at 20 percent to 30 percent annually.

Until recently, the security and surveillance market has been dominated by analog technology, better known as closed-circuit television (CCTV), Dax says. However, a technology shift is taking place in India, and analog closed circuit systems are giving way to IP-based (digital), integrated systems. Infrastructure development is growing across India and with it comes a demand for security, Dax says. However, surveillance is no longer simply about continuously gathering information; rather, it is about getting relevant information at the right time. Those cameras have in-built intelligence that enables them to alert security personnel or to activate recording if an event or activity takes place in a camera’s surveillance area unlike earlier when the camera used to record endless reels of information whether or not it was of any relevance. Therefore, less storage space is used up and only relevant information is stored.

IP surveillance is emerging as one of the most compelling investment area, creating a whole new market for networking resellers and integrators, according to the company. Background screening, data analytics, biometrics, digital video and sensor-based detection will continue to be major security investments over the next three to five years. In addition, it is expected that the government and defense forces will further increase investments in surveillance systems and a renewed impetus from medium-sized commercial enterprises with multiple locations such as banks, hospitals, retail shops, factories, real estate construction sites, restaurants and shopping malls.

The outlook of the market suggests that high import duties and taxes may be reduced in the wake of increasing security concerns, according to Dax. The participation of private equity in the broader security systems and services market is also covered and is an indication of growing investment interest in the industry, the company says.

New technologies are always emerging, but with growth and change come new areas of risk, Dax says. Organizations are responsible for the safety of their employees’ personal information, financial resources, and physical/emotional well being, as well as for the safety of customers, clients and shareholders. For that reason, security must involve more than just buying surveillance equipment, installing it, having in-house staff monitor it. For security to be effective, it must be governed by detailed security practices based on sound policies and procedures, Dax says. Therefore, organizations adopt surveillance to not only gain protection from security risks, but to enhance their business.

IP cameras play a crucial role in surveillance systems, according to Dax. They are connected to the main server and the monitors in the monitoring room with the help of network support and other hardware systems. IP cameras records digital images, which are of high quality and can be easily recognized, and are connected to a central server through an IP network and produce images with higher resolution. Images can be recorded and played back simultaneously without any hassle.

IP cameras provide advanced search capabilities with the ability to zoom, tilt and pan the camera made right from the monitoring room, Dax says. IP-based surveillance cameras are gaining in popularity. With the advent of network video, it is possible to remotely access real-time information from anywhere in the world. Network video facilitates proactive monitoring.

Today’s IP cameras can handle motion detection and tampering detection etc, the company says. A network IP camera is smart, as it offers alarm management, image enhancement, license plate, facial recognition, motion detection, alarm notification and is built with the latest technology.

IP cameras have all the intelligent features in-built with digital output, Dax says. Some unique features include security, streaming and storage. With regard to the first, the cameras support secure, encrypted video, multi-level user access with password protection, built-in feature for live video over the Internet from anywhere in the world, and HTTPS encrypted data transmission. When it comes to streaming, IP cameras allow multiple streaming and surveillance from mobile phones. Lastly, in terms of storage, Network Attached Storage is supported along with a built-in SD/SDHC card slot for on-board storage.

With enhanced features such as video analytics and systems interoperability, there is also scope for the sector to move into newer realms such as business intelligence besides the core function of safety and security.

IP cameras present a whole range of cost advantages some of which include, reduced system cost and added functionality due to general-purpose IP networking equipment infrastructure as well as a lower cost of cabling in large installations as CAT5e is used instead of RG-59 coaxial cable.

There is reduced space requirement as compared to large (many camera) CCTV setups because video switching and routing is done via a computer and does not need physically large and expensive video matrix switches. These cameras utilize existing wiring and networks, reducing the installation time and consumables. IP cameras also come with free “centralized management software.”

IP surveillance cameras score over CCTV on account of the cost-savings and flexibility, however the main criterion that defines the quality of a camera is resolution, Dax says. In terms of resolution, analog cameras cannot provide resolution above TV standards, the maximum being about 0.4 megapixels. Resolution of IP cameras can be many times higher (currently up to 3 megapixels) and they can capture a clearer image when objects are moving. That could make a huge difference in high-risk applications in the current network scenario.