BSNL's Internet Protocol TV will be in Goa within a year

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-02
PANAJI - The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will introduce the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) in Goa, in a year’s time. Goa will be the fourth location in the country after Kolkata, Bangalore and Pune to have this facility.
The general manager of BSNL (Goa), Mr G R Ravi, addressing a press conference, on the final day of the 3-day BSNL Mela organised in the city, commemorating 8th anniversary of BSNL, said that IPTV equipment would soon arrive in the state.
The deputy general manager of BSNL, Mr Sujeet Kumar informed that the IPTV service would be provided to the Goan customers by BSNL in association with other franchisees having IPTV technology. He further stated that BSNL would be signing Memorandums of Understanding with these franchisees.
IPTV is the delivery of broadcast-quality television and/ or video signals to subscribers over a broadband connection using the Internet Protocol (IP). IPTV operates on a premise that is different from traditional satellite or cable television. In IPTV, only selected programming and on-demand content are delivered to the consumer while on satellite and cable all channels are being pushed all the time to the consumer’s home.
IPTV’s ability to provide two-way communication (you request a programme from the TV guide and the programme is delivered to you) offers interactivity for the customer. Movies, past TV shows and other content can be distributed on demand and service providers can tailor the requested content and advertising based on the customer’s preferences.
Speaking further, Mr Ravi said that BSNL has launched its data services on CDMA 2000 IX by using BSNL Internet Connect Card (ICC). “The CDMA IX ICC will provide Internet service at the rate of 144 Kbps to computer users on their laptops as well as on desktops,” he stated, adding that this service would be available in all those locations wherever CDMA IX MSC based coverage is available.
Two types of data cards would be made available for the BSNL customers namely, Network Interface Card (NIC) with Internet speed of up to 144 Kbps and EVDO Card with Internet speed of up to 2.4 Mbps. It was also informed that the broadband connectivity of BSNL is fast expanding in the state to facilitate the never-ending demand from Goan customers. “The related equipment would arrive in Goa within a month,” Mr Ravi informed noting that currently, a total of 16,520 broadband BSNL connections are working from 84 exchanges in Goa.
The BSNL GM told the media that the expansion of rural connectivity is proceeding very fast with remaining 50 exchanges to be connected by November 2008. Information was also provided about the Zero Rental Plan of the BSNL for the rural areas in Goa, which covers a number of Goan villages and which include 40 exchanges, each of them having a capacity of less than 1,000 lines.