IPTV trials in INDIA - Reliance, MTNL and Bharti
After Reliance's Blue Magic mega plans, its time for MTNL and Bharti to reveal thier IPTV Plans. MTNL, India’s state-run telecommunications company Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is reported to be conducting trials of its IPTV service 'Tri-Band' in parts of Delhi and Mumbai. Also following in those footsteps, the premier Mobile operator Bharti (Airtel brand) is also conducting trials in Gurgaon. MTNL is expecting to target 200,000 broadband subscribers when it formally launches in the those cities.
Financial Express News reports,
The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) will enter into commercial arrangements with broadcasters like STAR TV, Prasar Bharati, Zee TV, Sony Entertainment, among others, for its soon to be launched Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services. Its IPTV service "Tri-Band" is currently undergoin trial runs in pockets of Delhi and Mumbai.
MTNL's commercial services will be launched in New Delhi and Mumbai, targeting 200,000 broadband subscribers. Apart from MTNL, mobile services company Bharti is also conducting trial runs in Gurgaon with test-signals from STAR Plus, ESPN and Zee TV, sources said.
According to STAR TV officials, IPTV will open a whole new revenue stream with a wide variety of offerings and value-added services for consumers. "We have given our signals to MTNL and Bharti for testing IPTV. In Chandigarh, we are even offering `Triple Play'," a STAR official told FE.
MTNL has entrusted the content delivery network responsibility to Time Broadband Services Ltd. Time broadband will look after the video equipment, middleware, billing systems, and content for MTNL. Bharti, on its part has tied up with UTStarcom for content delivery.
Comments