Bharti Airtel (News - Alert) and Reliance Communications have announced that they have been cleared to rollout IPTV services in the Indian market.

Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel (News - Alert) is the flagship company of Bharti Enterprises. The Bharti Group boasts of a diverse business portfolio and has created global brands in the telecommunication sector. Under a MoU with Wal-Mart, the group had recently entered into retail business as Bharti Retail Pvt. Ltd. for the cash and carry business. Additionally, Bharti has successfully launched an international venture with EL Rothschild Group for the export of fresh agri products exclusively to markets in Europe and USA. Bharti has also launched Bharti AXA Life Insurance Company Ltd under a joint venture with AXA, world leader in financial protection and wealth management.

Airtel is the telecom service provider from Bharti Airtel Limited., India’s largest integrated and the first private telecom services provider with a presence in all the 23 telecom circles. Since its inception, Airtel has been at the forefront of technology. It has driven the telecom sector in the country through its world class products and services. The businesses at Bharti Airtel have been segregated into three individual strategic business units (SBU’s) - Mobile Services, Airtel Telemedia Services & Enterprise Services. The addition of IPTV (News - Alert) to Bharti’s portfolio will add a new dimension to the company’s business.

Established in 1999, Reliance Communications is India’s largest information and communications service provider. The company boasts of more than 30 million subscribers. Reliance Communications was created with the goal of introducing a digital revolution that will provide every Indian with affordable means of communication, and an always-ready access to information.

Reliance Communications is also the flagship company of the Reliance – ADA Group.  The company delivers a comprehensive range of integrated telecom services, including mobile and fixed line telephony, broadband, national and international long distance services, data services and a wide range of value added services and applications that enhance the productivity of enterprises and individuals.

The introduction of IPTV services by both companies will increase the competition they have with the DTH service providers, who are ubiquitous in the country.

The permission for IPTV rollout was granted after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had forwarded the recommendations to the ministry of information & broadcasting.

According to the Ministry, telecom companies with relevant unified access service licenses and cellular mobile telephony service licenses can now deliver the IPTV service without having to register further. As a matter of fact, Bharti Airtel has already begun tests of IPTV in several areas in Gurgaon.

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Calvin Azuri is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

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