MTNL has launched Television over IP (IPTV) in Delhi after three years of soft launch in October 2006. IPTV is a service using which people can watch TV over broadband using Intenet Protocol(IP). This feature is generally useful by users who has already subscribed for broadband and don’t want to pay huge fees for the television service over conventional cable or using DTH.
In this service the television channels are encoded in IP format delivered using a set top box. IPTV services offer many other features like video on demand, replay on demand , play / pause channels at any moment of time etc.
With the launch of IPTV, MTNL jumped into the triple play bandwagon started by Airtel in January 2009. Now MTNL is offering telephone service,broadband service and IPTV using a single connection.MTNL is offering 150 channels over IPTV including movies on demand and interactive search.
Addition of IPTV in MTNL bouquet seems a nice addition but the success of this service is highly doubtful due to many reasons. It is not cost effective as users can get same services like movie on demand, play/pause etc using DTH for a much economical pricing. MTNL is charging 250 per month for 30 Free to air channels and 3 bouquets of Sony, Star & Zee. On almost the same price people can have a dedicated DTH service like Dish TV , Airtel , Big TV etc.
According to MTNL website “While providing IPTV connection on existing high-speed broadband line, Internet speed is reduced from 2mbps to 256 kbps.” meaning the speed at which user can surf Internet will decline sharply with the addition of IPTV.
At the end the success of IPTV seems highly doubtful and it may fail just like BSNL 3G service.
While Delhi will get IPTV Mumbai will be getting ready for 3G because MTNL has launched 3G services in Mumbai. With investment programme of Rs 250 crore, the state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has announced the mumbai launch of third-generation (3G) mobile services.
On of their pre-launch strategy is to offer free trials to its existing customers. MTNL had first launched 3G mobile services in Delhi. But just like BSNL the response till date has been dismal.
MTNL would offer schemes to both pre-paid as well as post-paid customers. Fixed monthly charges for the post-paid packages may vary from Rs 250 to Rs 2,500. MTNL’s 3G network is geared to support around one million customers in the first year of operation.
