The policy guidelines for setting an institutional framework for Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Services got the Cabinet nod on Thursday. The government also gave its approval to amend the policy guidelines for downlinking of TV channels so that broadcasters can beam their content through IPTV service providers. Issuance of guidelines on IPTV will help defining the parameters in which such IPTV service providers will work and clarify the regulatory framework of the IPTV space.
The amendments in downlinking policy will now enable IPTV service providers to obtain and use content of established broadcasters. Earlier broadcasters had the official permission to beam their channels only through analogue and DTH carriage platforms.
At present, the state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd offer IPTV services on their broadband networks. Reliance Communications in November last year tied up with Microsoft to deliver IPTV. The rival telecom player Bharti Airtel is also reported to be working on its IPTV venture.
The IPTV is a technology of distributing content through broadband networks. IPTV is a delivery platform that uses high speed Internet connection to reach the consumer. A few months ago telecom regulator Trai had submitted its recommendations to the ministry of information and broadcasting for determining the policy guidelines to regulate the IPTV services in the country.
The country currently has 4.39 million Internet-enabled broadband connections. There are 122 million TV homes, 80 million cable homes, 286 million mobile phones, 40 million landline connections in the country. Technologically speaking, TV can be viewed on all available platforms with the exception of fixedline phones. In the backdrop of convergence, cable TV operators can also provide broadband services.