Deployment issues for the IP multicast service and architecture

IP multicast offers the scalable point-to-multipoint delivery necessary for using group communication applications on the Internet. However, the IP mu lticast service has seen slow commercial deployment ISPs and carriers. The original service model was designed without a clear understanding of commer cial requirements or a robust implementation strategy. The very limited num ber of applications and the complexity of the architectural design - which we believe is a consequence of the open service model - have deterred wides pread deployment as well. We examine the issues that have limited the comme rcial deployment of IP multicast from the viewpoint of carriers. We analyze where the model fails and what it does not offer, and we discuss requireme nts for successful deployment of multicast services.