Nortel plans to test IPTV set-top boxes

Nortel Networks, the $10.5 billion global networking equipment provider, is planning to run IPTV set-top boxes on a trial basis in India. It has tied up with LG to this effect and the set-top boxes are expected to be manufactured and imported from Korea.

The company will provide optic fibre and use the service of carriers like Bharti, Tata, Reliance or BSNL for the trial run. The company conducted similar trials in Spain, according to Dhananjay Ganjoo, vice president - enterprise solution, Nortel India.

Nortel also launched a new product portfolio recently, targeted at SMEs.

E R Ashok Kumar, director - SMB, Nortel India, said the company was planning to become a single vendor for voice, data and coverged communication needs of SMBs in India. By opting for Nortel's product, the companies could save about 30 per cent of their costs, he claimed.

The company has set a target of appointing 1,000 channel partners by the end of this fiscal. It has appointed about 300 channel partners so far. Nortel expects its SMB business to contribute about 25 per cent to the total revenue of the company in India. However, he declined to give the numbers related to total revenues.

The company has also set up a dedicated national customer support centre in Chennai. This support will be accessible through a toll-free number.

Initially, the call centre will employ about 20 people and depending upon the need, the staff strength will be scaled up.