India Broadband Forum

icar · 08-29-08, 05:39 PM

Bharti Airtel plans simultaneous rollout of IPTV, DTH services

Quote:

MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel is looking at simultaneous rollout of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and direct-to-home (DTH) services following the Cabinet approval on downlinking norms for IPTV last week. Expected to be launched before this year-end, the two services will have differential pricing, with DTH targeted at the mass market and IPTV for broadband (high-speed internet) users.

IPTV refers to TV delivered through broadband. While Bharti was ready with the launch plan for IPTV long back, it was awaiting policy clarity on downlinking norms. The government has now given the go-ahead to broadcasters to share their channels with IPTV providers also. Earlier, only cable and DTH players were allowed to do so.

“We are now putting our launch (for IPTV) together. Right now, we are examining different options internally. Both the launches could be simultaneous or we could have them in phases. What is certain is that IPTV will be first launched in Delhi while DTH will be rolled out on a much larger scale,” Bharti Airtel president for Telemedia services Atul Bindal told ET.

Telemedia is Airtel’s business division that provides broadband and fixedline services to over 2.5 million customers in 95 cities. “Over the next few weeks, we will firm up our plans. IPTV will be an integral part of Airtel’s media business because DTH allows us to go wide and IPTV allows us to go deep in 6-8 top cities,” he said. On the pricing, Mr Bindal said: “IPTV sits on top of broadband. It gives me an opportunity to cross-sell and deepen my relationship with existing customers using local loop or broadband or both. My pricing for IPTV will be triple play (voice, data and video). For DTH, we’ll explore single play, double play as well as triple play and introduce it in around 5,000 towns and villages.”

DTH services are currently being offered by TataSky, Dish TV, Sun Direct and Reliance Communications’ Big TV. Asked about profitability, as none of the DTH players is currently making money, Mr Bindal said: “We don’t believe new businesses are a drag, if chosen correctly.

We are uniquely positioned to leverage the existing technological knowhow and are exploring ways and means for cross-leveraging our relationship with Airtel customers.”

Globally, IPTV is considered a niche segment as broadband access is not uniform. Industry estimates suggest that India will have around a million IPTV users by 2011 and for DTH, the number would be over 23 million.

For IPTV, Airtel has partnered with Cisco Systems. In Delhi, networking services provider UTStarcom is working with Airtel with its IPTV solutions.

Admin · 08-30-08, 12:31 AM

This is some good news

Looks like dth market in India is getting heated by the day... I am very hopefull about a massice price war in the days to come.

Preeti_20 · 08-30-08, 02:20 AM

Is there are going to be more and more DTH services, it means that there will be a lot of competition.

As far as Airtel is concerned well their mobile service is brilliant so i have high hopes for their DTH service too.

premsharma695 · 09-15-08, 12:15 PM

Yes Airtel services are better and more over there is no cheating intent, They are still better than the rest.

Admin · 10-06-08, 06:43 PM

When is Airtel dth going to be launched? any dates yet?

pothi · 10-06-08, 07:03 PM

I'm looking forward to it too. I'm already so impressed by their service and quality in other fields. Hope their entry would only bring a better solution for the customers in the DTH segment.

iChaitanya · 10-07-08, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Admin

When is Airtel dth going to be launched? any dates yet?

I've heard that they were planning a soft-launch in the 1st week of October. But, as you can see nothing is clear till now. I say - it'll happen in 2009.

pothi · 10-07-08, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iChaitanya

I've heard that they were planning a soft-launch in the 1st week of October. But, as you can see nothing is clear till now. I say - it'll happen in 2009.

Good timing.

Rameshjeee · 10-07-08, 04:24 PM

Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of Airtel digital TV, its Direct To Home (DTH) Satellite TV service. The service will be available to customers through 21,000 retail points including Airtel Relationship Centres in 62 cities across the country starting October 9, 2008.

Airtel digital TV uses the latest MPEG4 standard with DVB S2 technology, which translates into exceptional picture clarity and consistent high quality audio for the customer. This latest technology also enables delivery of more complex interactive content and is High Definition ready. Also, Airtel digital TV uses 20% larger dish antenna that offers better performance during rain.

Besides the latest technology., Airtel digital TV brings many firsts to the DTH segment in India:

1) Universal remote for both Set Top box and TV that offers enhanced viewer convenience
2)Highest Set Top Box memory enabling more interactive applications
3) Exclusive content such as World space radio
4) Interactive applications such as iMatinee (Book cinema tickets), iTravel (Browsw and book travel packages), iShop (Shop on TV for your favourite brands), iCity (Get your city's information) and Widgets (Update yourself on latest stock news). 8 screen iNews, 2/4 screen iSports
5) Amazing games with high quality graphics, refreshed every six weeks
6) Audio gain control for uniform audio levels across all channels
7) Simple and intuitive search
8) On screen account meter
9) Last viewed channel in case of power disruption/switch off
10) Low battery indicator on the screen.

The customer care is available in 8 different languages and a team of 800 professionally trained service engineers.

Admin · 10-07-08, 04:30 PM

wow 9th is just another two day then

It would be great to see how airtel dth performs during rains with their 20% bigger dish because both tata sky and dish tv go dead when there is heavy rain. I have seen tata sky go down for more then 15 mins a number of times this monsoon.

Any news about the packages yet?

gauviz · 10-08-08, 12:29 AM

Good thing i waited till now for choosing a dth provider. Most of my friends rushed for big tv since its cheap, but i wasn't sure because of there customer support which is pathetic.

Can't wait for them to launch. Hope there services are not very high like tata sky.

Rameshjeee · 10-08-08, 09:25 AM

Airtel DTH to offer over 175 channels through three different packages for the North and southern markets.

“For the northern market, the package starts from Rs. 2,499 and for the South, the package would start from Rs. 1,499. Depending on the language and genre of channels, the monthly tariffs would range from Rs. 125 to Rs. 424.

There's also special deals to 80-lakh mobile, broadband and other airtel customers.

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08-30-08, 12:31 AM	#2
Admin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Age: 32 Posts: 4,699 Rep Power: 12	This is some good news Looks like dth market in India is getting heated by the day... I am very hopefull about a massice price war in the days to come.

08-30-08, 02:20 AM	#3
Preeti_20 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: In my Castle Posts: 3,280 Rep Power: 7	Is there are going to be more and more DTH services, it means that there will be a lot of competition. As far as Airtel is concerned well their mobile service is brilliant so i have high hopes for their DTH service too.

09-15-08, 12:15 PM	#4
premsharma695 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Age: 40 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Yes Airtel services are better and more over there is no cheating intent, They are still better than the rest.

10-06-08, 06:43 PM	#5
Admin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Age: 32 Posts: 4,699 Rep Power: 12	When is Airtel dth going to be launched? any dates yet?

10-06-08, 07:03 PM	#6
pothi Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Heaven Posts: 246 Rep Power: 2	I'm looking forward to it too. I'm already so impressed by their service and quality in other fields. Hope their entry would only bring a better solution for the customers in the DTH segment.

10-07-08, 04:24 PM	#9
Rameshjeee Aadhavan is Coming Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leaving Chennai Age: 26 Posts: 3,075 Rep Power: 10	Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of Airtel digital TV, its Direct To Home (DTH) Satellite TV service. The service will be available to customers through 21,000 retail points including Airtel Relationship Centres in 62 cities across the country starting October 9, 2008. Airtel digital TV uses the latest MPEG4 standard with DVB S2 technology, which translates into exceptional picture clarity and consistent high quality audio for the customer. This latest technology also enables delivery of more complex interactive content and is High Definition ready. Also, Airtel digital TV uses 20% larger dish antenna that offers better performance during rain. Besides the latest technology., Airtel digital TV brings many firsts to the DTH segment in India: 1) Universal remote for both Set Top box and TV that offers enhanced viewer convenience 2)Highest Set Top Box memory enabling more interactive applications 3) Exclusive content such as World space radio 4) Interactive applications such as iMatinee (Book cinema tickets), iTravel (Browsw and book travel packages), iShop (Shop on TV for your favourite brands), iCity (Get your city's information) and Widgets (Update yourself on latest stock news). 8 screen iNews, 2/4 screen iSports 5) Amazing games with high quality graphics, refreshed every six weeks 6) Audio gain control for uniform audio levels across all channels 7) Simple and intuitive search 8) On screen account meter 9) Last viewed channel in case of power disruption/switch off 10) Low battery indicator on the screen. The customer care is available in 8 different languages and a team of 800 professionally trained service engineers.

10-07-08, 04:30 PM	#10
Admin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Delhi Age: 32 Posts: 4,699 Rep Power: 12	wow 9th is just another two day then It would be great to see how airtel dth performs during rains with their 20% bigger dish because both tata sky and dish tv go dead when there is heavy rain. I have seen tata sky go down for more then 15 mins a number of times this monsoon. Any news about the packages yet?

10-08-08, 12:29 AM	#11
gauviz Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 70 Rep Power: 2	Good thing i waited till now for choosing a dth provider. Most of my friends rushed for big tv since its cheap, but i wasn't sure because of there customer support which is pathetic. Can't wait for them to launch. Hope there services are not very high like tata sky.

10-08-08, 09:25 AM	#12
Rameshjeee Aadhavan is Coming Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leaving Chennai Age: 26 Posts: 3,075 Rep Power: 10	Airtel DTH to offer over 175 channels through three different packages for the North and southern markets. “For the northern market, the package starts from Rs. 2,499 and for the South, the package would start from Rs. 1,499. Depending on the language and genre of channels, the monthly tariffs would range from Rs. 125 to Rs. 424. There's also special deals to 80-lakh mobile, broadband and other airtel customers.

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Bharti Airtel plans simultaneous rollout of IPTV, DTH services

Bharti Airtel plans simultaneous rollout of IPTV, DTH services

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