MTNL to offer video-on-demand

New Delhi: MTNL has signed an agreement with India-On-Line Broadband Limited and Aksh Optifibre Limited for the launch of Broadband Content Services (IPTV). The service is expected to be launched by MTNL shortly. According to Sunil Kumar, GM marketing, MTNL, "MTNL is all set to revolutionise entertainment, with technology stepping in landline customers will be able to enjoy voice telephony, high speed internet and broadcast TV and video-on-demand services on the phone wires at very competitive rates."

In recent years, the government-owned (the government currently holds a 56.25-per cent stake in it) publicly listed MTNL, which operates in Mumbai and Delhi, has been at the forefront of new technology induction and has emerged as a competitive price warrior amonf all Indian telcos, along with its sibling BSNL, the other government-owned but unlisted national long distance carrier.

Set up on 1 April, 1986, by the government to upgrade and expand telecom services, in the last 19 years MTNL has emerged among one of Asia's largest telecom operating companies and a customer base of over 5 million.

According to MTNL, during the current year it's focus is on widening its cellular and CDMA-based WLL customer base, introducing 3G services and achieving at least 500,000 broadband customers and starting telecom services in Mauritius through a subsidiary.