VISAKHAPATNAM: Vexed with frequent enhancement of cable TV charges, poor transmission and power cuts?

Bid adieu to all those problems. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has come out with a new facility for its landline subscribers to help overcome them as also to provide other services like `Video on demand' and `Interactive gaming'.

Broadband subscribers are already using their telephones to browse the Internet and voice telephony simultaneously. The new facility would enable them to watch Internet Protocol (IP) TV, download movies from the online menu and play interactive games. The facility will be introduced in Visakhapatnam city along with other major cities in the country by July-end in the first phase.

BSNL is said to be holding consultations with satellite channel providers for a tie-up to extend cable services.

"There are different plans under which subscribers can avail themselves of the services. They can also select the services which they wish to use. Tariff has been fixed on an experimental basis," Telecom District General Manager P. Nagaraju told The Hindu . Under Option I, subscribers have to make a one time payment of Rs.3,950 and under Option II, they have to pay Rs.1,500 as refundable security deposit and Rs.100 as monthly fixed charges for availing of the cable TV facility. Installation charges of Rs.600 have to be paid under either options.

Subscribers have to pay Rs.150 per month under the basic plan for the video on demand facility. This would entitle them to five free movies and each additional movie would be charged Rs.50. The tariff has been worked out on an experimental basis and they could be lowered depending on the demand.

New connections

"All the 28 exchanges in the city will be upgraded into multi-play exchanges. The first priority in providing the facility will be given to existing subscribers," Deputy General Manager (Planning) G.V. Ramakrishna said and appealed to prospective subscribers to register their booking for new telephone connections immediately.

"In future small producers can launch their movies on this facility and get assured returns on their films. Video piracy can also be curbed as the system would not permit copying of the films," he added. Looks like landlines are once again poised to regain their supremacy.

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