Alcatel-Lucent, in collaboration with Aksh Optifibre, one of India’s pioneering IPTV service provider, has announced that it has enabled the commercial launch of India’s first 3G-driven mobile TV services. This new mobile TV service, offered by broadband mobile provider MTNL, makes multimedia and entertainment a reality for millions of MTNL mobile subscribers in the metro cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The service was launched in March 2010.
Specifically, Aksh leverages Alcatel-Lucent’s cost-effective, flexible mobile streaming server to provide an enhanced user experience thanks to its bandwidth adaptation and video optimisation capabilities as well as enable generate additional revenue for MTNL, thanks to the solution’s ad insertion capability.
Kailash Choudhari, Managing Director, Aksh Optifibre, said, “At Aksh, our commitment is to deliver ubiquitous technology and path-breaking innovation. Mobile TV as a value added feature epitomises convergence in technology, realising the distant dream of live television viewing on the move. Our association with Alcatel-Lucent enables us to materialise that Indian 3G subscriber’s aspiration for a revolutionary product.”
Vivek Mohan, Managing Director, Alcatel-Lucent, India, added here, “Streaming video is the fastest growing data service and is a key enabler for mobile operators to justify investment in 3G and LTE technologies. Alcatel-Lucent’s mobile streaming server offers an exceptional viewing experience, high quality video from the very first video frame, and fast and seamless stream switching when zapping between TV channels.”
Alcatel-Lucent will provide its mobile streaming server, an off-the-shelf solution to launch video services on 2.5G and 3G networks. The mobile streaming server supports all types of standard-based media formats and dynamic switching from high-bit rate to low-bit rate streaming based on network coverage and bandwidth availability, hence lowering cost of ownership. It offers enhancements to all aspects of user experience, including fast start-up, bit rate adaption, quality video from frame 1 and seamless stream switching. The solution also helps monetise the mobile TV service by providing open interfaces that enable pre-roll, in-stream and post-roll ad insertion for any mobile video application.
The new mobile TV service helps Aksh Optifiber extend its existing IPTV service, iControl, currently offered to the MTNL subscribers. The new partnership also further cements Alcatel-Lucent’s role in the development of new advanced mobile services for MTNL and of 3G in India.
Alcatel-Lucent is a key player in video streaming solutions with more than 60 references worldwide.