MTNL Launches Fiber IPTV in Delhi

MTN and its IPTV franchisee Aksh Optifibre launched anIPTV service in Delhi. All MTNL broadband subscribers will be able to register for the IPTV service. The two c0mpanies deployed the service in about 200 homes in New Delhi in 2006..

This service will cost 90 rupees ($2.25) per month plus premium pay channels based. Viewers will be able to subscribe to the pay channels listed on the TV itself and start watching them immediately.

The service will include a Time-shift TV service that will allow viewers to rewind a live broadcast channel and to catch a program that has been broadcast in the previous week.

Advertisers will be able to upload full length campaigns, product videos, and detailed trailers, without the limitation to a 10, 20, or 30 second format.
An ecommerce facility will launched soon that will allow users to items shown on infomercials and pay for it using the television remote and have it delivered to their homes.

A video on demand service will also be available with over 100 movie titles in Hindi and English. Plays and serialized TV programs in Hindi, Punjabi, Marathi and Bangla will also be in the library. Additional titles will be added every week. In addition services such as booking of movie tickets with the television remote, video calling, music on demand, online chats, and virtual classrooms -are expected to be added to the service.

Based on an open platform, this service will also allow creation of third-party applications that can be offered through the system - from placing orders for cakes and flowers to trading of stocks while watching a business news broadcast channel and telemedicine for which the remote center only needs an MTNL line and a television set.

India promises to be a very strong IPTV market in time. It will have to substantially increase its broadband infrastructure first, of course.

What is interesting is the amount of innovation that is going into this service. MTNL is starting to deploy services that are only being talked about in North America and Europe. It will be interesting to see how this service develops.