Bangalore: Move over cable TV operators. Internet Protocol (IP) TV or TV over phone lines is on its way. Public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) will shortly roll out video content and value-added services for its broadband (Internet) subscribers in Bangalore and Chennai in a plan that is expected to replace traditional methods of viewing media in the near future.

Using the Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) Two Plus technology, BSNL will provide IPTV services to its subscribers by connecting the broadband network to the content server. All that is required for this is a BSNL fixed line phone, a personal computer, a broadband modem, a set-top box and a TV set. The set-top box installed on the customer's premises will be connected to the broadband modem which, in turn, will be connected to the computer for Internet services and the TV set for video content in what is now commonly know the world over as "triple play."

"BSNL has signed a franchisee agreement with India Online (IOL) Broadband Ltd. for sourcing video content. IOL will set up the content delivery network centre and provide audio and video content services in the form of video on demand (VOD), gaming and TV channels using BSNL's fixed line infrastructure," A.N.J. Aradhya, general manager, Network Coordination, BSNL, told The Hindu . Several hundred Hindi and Hollywood movies will be made available on demand through the BSNL network, apart from a bouquet of TV channels.

The plan also seeks to make BSNL's fixed line telephone more attractive to users and stem the big slide witnessed in this segment recently compared with mobile phones.

IOL has already imported the equipment required for setting up a state-of-the-art content delivery network centre in Bangalore. It will be linked to the network operations centre of BSNL for providing IPTV services.

"In about a month's time, IOL is expected to start testing the network and, in the next two months, commence field trials in Bangalore," Mr. Aradhya said.

If the field trials prove successful in Bangalore, IPTV services will be launched in Bangalore and Chennai. Currently, BSNL has about 93,000 broadband customers in Bangalore and the number is fast nearing the allotted capacity of 1.05 lakh ports.

Revenue to be shared

The open-ended agreement is based on the revenue sharing format whereby the revenues accruing from providing the services to BSNL broadband customers will be split in the ratio of 80 per cent to IOL and 20 per cent to BSNL in the first year of operation. From the second year onwards, the revenue share percentage will stabilise at 70 per cent to IOL and 30 per cent to BSNL.

BSNL has also signed a franchisee agreement with Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd. (MKCL) for providing IPTV services to its broadband subscribers in Pune and is close to inking a similar deal with a video content service provider for its broadband customers in Hyderabad.

Earlier attempts failed

A few attempts by BSNL earlier to provide IPTV services failed after franchisees backed out, but Mr. Aradhya reckons that the latest plan stands a good chance to succeed.

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