MTNL aims to reach 50,000 subscribers for IPTV service in 18 months

August 14, 2007 – Indian telco Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has revealed that it aims to reach 50,000 subscribers for its IPTV service within 18 months.

The service was launched last July, and currently numbers under 1,000 subscribers.  The company hopes that it will be helped by its target to increase broadband connections to 500,000 in the cities of both Mumbai and Delhi.  MTNL currently has 225,000 broadband lines out of a total of 4.5mn fixed line subscribers in the two cities.

“We have 1,000 connections getting done per day in broadband so IPTV takeoff will be faster,” said RP Sinha, Chairman and Managing Director of MTNL.  Subscribers currently pay Rs 3,500 for a set-top box and a monthly rental of Rs 120 for 52 channels in Delhi, with around 100 channels expected to be available within a month’s time.

“In 18 months as we reach 50,000 subscribers, set-top boxes may be free and monthly subscription may undergo a change,” said Kailash Choudary, Managing Director of Aksh Optifibres, MTNL’s partner company which organises its content.  MTNL reportedly intends to rollout fibre optic cabling within eight weeks.