BSNL to launch IPTV, invest Rs 800 cr for nation-wide roll out

Kolkata, Jan 5 (UNI) The war among the cable and DTH operators is further hightened with the entry of public sector telecom operator BSNL entering the entertainment market with IPTV.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) was planning to launch IPTV by early next fiscal with an investment of Rs 800 crore over the next one year for nation-wide roll out.

BSNL would act as a cable operator offering television channels along with various value-added services like video-on-demand, gaming and video-conferencing facilities along with basic cable service.

"Soft launch of IPTV (Internet TV) will be in February and commercial is expected in April," Calcutta Telephones CGM S K Chakravarty said here.

The new service will be available in all the 540-odd local exchanges, he said.

Calcutta Telephones would invest Rs 30 crore in the infrastructure for delivery of IPTV content in the copper wire of the same existing BSNL phone.

"Our charges will be not more than Rs 200 per month for some 100 Television channels, 30 free video-on-demand movies in a month, video-conferencing, video games at low cost and more facilities," Mr Chakravarty informed.

UNI