BSNL to launch IPTV in 3 months

Indian telecom major Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has commenced testing of its Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) service in Pune. It is following the footsteps of its competitor, MTNL, which had already launched the service in New Delhi and will soon offer it in Mumbai.

The company has tied up with the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL), a state government company, for integration of information technology in education and DiviNet, an infrastructure and technology provider.

Confirming this, BSNL Chief General Manager Kuldeep Goyal told Business Standard, "The tests are in the final stages and we expect to launch the service in three months. Later, we will extend the service throughout the country."

The service would first be dished out to the metroes and larger cities starting with Pune. Simultaneously, a rollout for rural areas is also planned. BSNL is yet to decided on the price factor of its IPTV offerings, which according to Goyal would be finalised "immediately".

The company is looking at a revenue-sharing model with its partners DiviNet, which will provide the software, while MKCL would be an active partner in the rollout of the services.

The company has also roped in local partners in Chennai and Bangalore. However, their names were not divulged.

BSNL intends to provide music and video-on-demand, digital video recording, Internet, video calling and time-shifted TV (a technology that enables a subscriber to watch last one week's TV programme) among others.

Other players like Reliance Communications and Bharti Tele-ventures are also planning to hop on to the IPTV bandwagon.