Brief

MTNL brings IPTV to Mumbai

K. S. Choudhari,MD,Aksh Optifibre and J.Gopalan, Executive Director MTNL Mumbai at the launch of IPTV (Interactive personalised TV) and Video phone service.

MTNL and Aksh Optifibre have launched IPTV- Aksh-Tel and Video Phone Calling Services- V Spyk in Mumbai. All Mumbai based MTNL broadband subscribers can soon use the facility of Aksh’s IPTV and Video Phone Calling services.

Aksh-Tel, Aksh Optifibre’s Interactive Personalized Television (IPTV) delivers television programming with high quality of reception and add on features like time-shift television, video on demand etc. V Spyk is a real time Video Phone Calling service between two users, enabling real time communication at a personalized level.

According to K.S. Choudhari, MD, Aksh Optifibre, landline voice traffic is taken over by mobile therefore there was a search of value added services, hence Video Phone Calling and IPTV services came into existence.

He added, “The cost for all the four services that includes VoIP, video, IPTV and landline is Rs 4,999 per month with no additional rental charges which other providers have. We would be adding new features like the video yellow page that will answers the queries for example, will provide the contact details of a plumber, restaurants etc. We would also look at interactive education.”

Choudhari believed that there is huge gap between DTH and IPTV, DTH is already used by millions of people and IPTV is growing as it is more interactive.

Aksh Optifibre is expecting around 50,000 customers in nine months from Delhi and Mumbai; presently it has 3,500 customers in Delhi.

R.S.P Sinha, Chairman and MD, MTNL revealed that consumers expect services that are both innovative and affordable from MTNL. He said, “With the endless possibilities available with IPTV, and Video Phone Calling services, the expectations will be fulfilled. MTNL has tied up with Aksh for the achievement of such targets and objectives for providing the best services for optimum consumer satisfaction.”

“MNTL Mumbai has more than three lakh Broadband customers and we are expecting more than 10,000 customers to use IPTV within nine months in Mumbai,” said J.Gopalan, Executive Director MTNL Mumbai.

Aksh Optifibre would also like to provide these services to the BSNL customers and is planning to launch a HD in Delhi and if successful will look at Mumbai. MTNL is planning to launch Live Mobile TV that will have 12 channels and GPRS network.