Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) rolled out the country`s first IPTV service in Mumbai on Saturday and in Delhi on October 17. This will be the first IPTV deployment in India.
MTNL has entered into a tie-up with city-based IOL Broadband Ltd for the service, which would be available at Rs 199 per month.
As a first step, 25 channels will be provided which will go up to 200-250 at a later stage. Initially the service will be offered to the existing 2.2 million MTNL broadband subscribers in Mumbai.
MTNL would be providing the infrastructure, while IOL Boradband the content delivery network.
IPTV describes a system where a digital television service is delivered using the Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include delivery by a broadband connection. For residential users, IPTV is often provided in conjunction with Video on Demand and may be bundled with Internet services such as Web access and VoIP. The commercial bundling of IPTV, VoIP and Internet access is referred to as a Triple Play. The technology is being touted as the next big thing in broadband and is becoming popular in other countries.
A number of other operators, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Reliance Communication are planning to launch IPTV in a big way.
Source: Hindu
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How does IPTV work?
IPTV uses a two-way digital broadcast signal, sent through a switched telephone or cable network by way of a broadband connection and a set top box programmed with software much like a cable or DSS box that can handle viewer requests to access many available media sources.
The viewer’s TV connects to a set top box that decodes the IP video and converts it into standard television signals. IPTV allows operators to deliver content to their subscribers using telephone lines through IP technology. So far, this technology was being used to deliver voice through Internet telephony. The services on IPTV include video-on-demand and digital video recording.
TV over telephone line is slated to be the next big application for telecom service providers. Even mobile operators are looking at technologies like the FLO and EVDO to broadcast live TV on cellular phones. It is predicted that by 2008, 20 million homes worldwide will subscribe to IPTV services.
FAQ on MTNL IPTV Service (from MTNL Mumbai website)
What is IPTV service
TV service which is delivered using IP (Internet Protocol) technology – this is the same technology which is used in Internet Services . In this service the TV channels are encoded in IP format and delivered to TV through a Set Top Box. The IP TV Service also includes Video on Demand Service which is similar to watching Video CDs / DVDs using a VCD/DVD player. Movies, Instructional Videos and other content shall be available to customers in the IP TV Services.
How this service functions:
The three main components in delivering this service are:
TV and Content Head End – where the TV channels are received and encoded. Also other content (Video’s) are stored at Head End. MTNL has signed agreement for this with M/s IOL.
Delivery network – which is MTNL’s Broadband network and MTNL’s telephone line. (Landline).
Set Top Box – The Set Top Box is required at the customer location for converting the IP signal back to TV signal. The STB shall be connected between MTNL Broadband Modem and customer’s TV.
Who shall be providing the Set Top Box:
The STB shall be provided by M/s IOL.
What are the tariffs for the service:
Tariffs shall be announced shortly.
Any pre-requisites for IPTV Service:
MTNL Landline telephone with Broadband connectivity is required for these services.
What services shall be available:
Bouquet of TV channels and Video on Demand services shall be available initially during trials. Other services / content shall be introduced progressively.
Whether customer shall be able to use normal telephone and internet service along with IP TV Service:
Yes, all the three services can work together:
– Normal Telephone service
– Broadband Internet service
– IPTV service
sir, i am sorry to inform you that i have been using iptv in mumbai for about a year now. i have been changing from higher plan to lower as per my requirement. this time also i did it but iptv mumbai failed to change my plan on the server and is now blaming me. they made me pay rs. 100 if i wanted iptv to continue. i paid even though it was iptv’s fault. i paid for lower plan and again paid rs. 100 because iptv did not change my plan. now iptv is refusing to refund me rs 100 and says that it was not their fault. you all tell me, when i have paid for lower plan and if iptv does not change the plan on server whose fault is it ? all users of iptv please be aware the mischief iptv is using to extract from us even though it is their fault.
MTNL is a sister concern company of BSNL and comes under Central Govt… The customer base of MTNL is nearly 5.92 million. And from past few years the graph is going down even if the Indian Govt. is spending too much of huge amount to uplift the customer base, but still the graph is going down and the main reason is their “GREAT SERVICES”. The MTNL lineman don’t have enough idea to configure even a modem and to solve a single complaint they take nearly 1 month or more because the don’t have enough workforce and the coverage area is very big. And when you see the MTNL exchange you become shocked to see their exchange, made of HUWIA equipments, and when you see the AIRTEL exchange you will find Ericson equipments just because the cost of HUWAI equipments are nearly half then Ericson.
Basically they have two type of exchange one is for 256 Kbps and one for above 256Kbps, if you buy plan for above 256 then you may get good response because for that only they use Ericson exchange.
I raised my voice at Consumer Court and submitted a online complaint and found that I am not one who is facing the problems with MTNL http://www.consumercourt.in/broadband/1-mtnl-broadband.html here you can check the details of complaints.
I don’t know why the Govt. change the plan to get more customer and spend a huge amount in ads, the salary of lineman is nearly 15000/-, I think this is a total waste. Customers are very much frustrated from MTNL. If you visit the MTNL exchange you will find many customers shouting on the Area Manager. MY personal experience with MTNL was pathetic and now I switched to another services provider and now I am very much satisfied.
MTNL joins as ninth member of rescue team to help world’s LONE heavy spammer!
Detail at http://huntspam.net/blogs
The lone heavy spammer, using email service in all countries, sent a billion emails every minute. Spam in our inboxes swelled up from 50 a day to 600 a day.
I began SPAM THE SPAMMER crusade on 04 March 2010. On 08 April 2010, I located this LONE heavy spammer using spry.com USA in bulk – the account was terminated on my complaint. On my first complaint, many accounts were terminated every hour. During recent days, he has been signing up debut accounts in new countries. Since 14 April SEVEN indian companies – RelianceTheCancer Sancharnet TataCom Railtel Airtel cert-in.org.in Vodafone – visibly came to rescue of dying world email spam. On 19 April the master spammer – hard disk harvester roped in Novanet first and then MTNL to make rescue team total nine. From circumstances, master spammer appears to be kin of either a minister or TRAI/DOT Chief in India.
The emails received have links which do not produce any page/error page. While victim waits for something to happen, image of hard disk is transmitted to spammer. He may be targeting bank passwords and precious software.
it is such a nice step 2wards the growth in IT sector ” by this people r able 2 watch movies ” along with broadband servie “as well as cable network ” it is more appealing in quality & it will easily a 3way mode ” it is helpful for every employee ” time saving as well as energy ” i am really looking forward 2 it ” by best wishes always with MTNL “
If you have a broadband connection of BSNL or MTNL it is easy to get the connection. I have Myway iptv and i get this connection because i use BSNL Broadband. I have the connection 4 months back. I find that 3-4 times the picture freeze but it is not very frequent, i.e why i am ok with that because its not a major problem. But i like the features because it is better than DTH.
hello
its possible that i can take my ibox with me to abord
thanks
I am very sorry for having asked for IPTV.From the very date of installation. I have been getting messages “waiting signal” Initiation failed” or static images.I don’t know Iptv means this.
If we try to contact Aksh on 126555 or 126777.except ring with stereo type tape,there is no body to attend or help us.I am totally fad up ,disappointed with such type of service.
I hope the concerned authorities will find out some time to redress our problems
I want to subscribe ip tv, but I dont know how to apply for this, if anybody know how to apply for it, please let me know.
Hi,
Is it IOL Broadband or IOL net owned by Ashish Deora ?
we are expecting the services to be up and going in navi mumbai too.
waiting.
regards
🙁 I think this is the worst service provider. I am staying in Airoli, New Mumbai and using the MTNL’s triband for last 2.5 years. It was working fine some 7-8 months before but now the cable which is running to my complex has developed some earthing problem due to which phone is getting noise disturbance very often as well as broadband does not work properly. If I am luck on a day, it will connect but no guarantee that it will be connected for more than half an hour. Its really shame now to say in public that I am using MTNL’s broadband. When I did complaints, I was told very coldly that they are planning a new exchange in Airoli which is only on paper since last 5-6 years and when it will be functioning, all your problems will be resolved. But I don’t believe this bullshit. Don’t go for any other services than phone from MTNL.
AKSH IPTV was installed at my home on 23-06-2008.But it worked hardly for 2 days.Thereafter I lodged complaints to AKSH IPTV & MTNL several times on phone and through email.The customer service provided by AKSH IPTV is very very poor. They do not give complaint numbers which is violation of TRAI guidelines. When you call at call centre they will ask your name and contact number but they do not bother to call back. Every time you have to remind them about the problem you are facing. I think I have called them more than 50 times.[B][U][COLOR=”Red”]This is the poorest customer service I have seen in my entire life.[/COLOR][/U][/B]. I sent emails to their head office at Gurgaon but I think they don’t have any regards to customers.The reason given to me was problem at Prabhadevi telephone exchange.But I have not received a written comnunication from MTNL/AKSH.I fails to understand when the infrastructure was not ready why they have go ahead with the project. MTNL is not able to fix the problem after so many days . This shows it’s efficiency. This is the main reason MTNL is loosing it’s market share in Mumbai.
On 04-07-2008 I written email to MTNL’s top boss that if the problem is not fixed I will escalate the matter to Department of Telecommunication.Then on 8-7-2008 AKSH’s technician came to my home and fixed the problem. But from 09-07-2008 onwards IPTV is not working. Again I called several times at call centre to wake up AKSH. On 12-07-2008 their technician visited my home and assured me that problem will be solved in a couple of days.When I called at call centre today i.e. 17-07-2008 told me that the problem is solved. But IPTV is not functioning yet. As usual I had given my contact details but nobody called me and no technical help is provided.
I lodged several complaints online, through emails and on telephone to MTNL and AKSH but I have not received a single written communications from them.
AKSH – MUMBAI MTNL IPTV IS SUPER FLOP SHOW.
Hi
I want surya tv channel along with asianet. please give the latest list of channels in the internet site.
Regards
pbk
Well this is another step to the development in direction of IT, we have several users of Internet today working several hours online and they dont have feasibiliy to see TV seperately… now this will help all such IP users… to see Television… Thanks to the thinkers behind this..