MTNL Finalizing Plans To Launch IPTV Services

India is all set jump on the 'Triple Play' bandwagon as the government owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is finalizing trial runs to introduce Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services in the country. According to industry observers, India is considered to be a potential gold mine with over a billion potential viewers.

IPTV is television service delivered over Internet Protocol (IP) via broadband. IPTV also opens the door for ‘Triple Play’•a bundled offering of voice, video and data. IPTV and VOD technologies are gaining traction all over the world and could well replace the traditional viewing media soon. 

There is however no regulation in place right now for IPTV services in the country. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has, however, floated a consultation paper and has proposed amendments to the Cable TV Act to govern it.

MTNL is expected to be the first to go live with IPTV and VOD, with a launch likely in Mumbai and Delhi by January 2007.Apart from MTNL, mobile services company Bharti is also conducting trial runs in Gurgaon with test-signals from STAR Plus, ESPN and Zee TV.