Reliance Info Test Launches Home Netway In Gujarat

[shuva_nandi 0]

Reliance Info test launches Home Netway in Gujarat

Joydeep Ray / Ahmedabad April 30, 2005

Reliance Info is all set to launch ‘Home Netway’ services, a convergence of television and Internet. The company has already begun the test launch of this unique product in over 2,000 homes in Gujarat and Mumbai. 

 

The product is expected to be launched commercially by mid-2006, sources said. 

 

“Reliance Info has test launched Home Netway in several homes in Hazira, Jamnagar and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, and in Mumbai. The product will deliver hundreds of TV channels to millions of homes through a multifunctional, digital set-top box designed and manufactured by Reliance. 

 

“The set-top box, called ‘Chois Pad,’ has 40 GB memory. It can store nearly 10 hours of programming. The Chois Pad will enable users to experience functions such as pausing a live TV programme, live and pre-programmed digital recording and electronic programme guide,” the sources said. 

 

The remote control of the set-top box will also function as VoIP telephone handset, karaoke microphone and keypad for surfing the net or typing e-mail. 

 

“In effect no cable operator will be able to match Chios Pad. A one-time investment in Chois Pad would also ensure good picture quality and high-speed net surfing, “added the sources. 

 

With a Home Netway connection a subscriber can also watch movies and listen to music on-line. Though Reliance Info might charge extra for such special features, viewing movies and TV channels might remain free during the initial days. 

 

Though company officials denied to comment on the new product, sources said that the Reliance-patented Chois Pad might be outsourced by the company. 

 

But the idea of setting up a set-top box manufacturing plant is also not ruled out. Reliance may well setup a set-top box manufacturing facility in Himachal Pradesh, added the sources. 

 

“Netway would usher in convergence of television and Internet. Those who have a TV at home, but who cannot afford a personal computer, can hugely benefit from Netway,” sources said.

 

Is any one of us in here testing the Netway services ? If yes, please let us know the details of it. One more thing we need to know is the cost of the set top box and the subscription charges.

Shuvabrata

[Saurav 22]

For most of the cities atleast in Punjab wireline services are being delayed.

[Sadikk 301]

For this particular thing we have to atleat wait for 2 more years, they haven't launched EV-DO yet, which has been in testing period since 03-04.

[Arun 795]

Reliance Infocomm hastens broadband plan

ALOKANANDA GHOSH

Wired up

Calcutta, June 1:

Reliance Infocomm plans to roll out its enterprise broadband services in 200 cities by the end of the year.

Broadband service for enterprises consists of an integrated voice, data and video solution. The convergent voice-data-video framework is delivered through the fibre-to-the- building architecture

Prakash Bajpai, president, wireline business, Reliance Infocomm, said, “We are already offering this service in 150 pockets across 30 cities in the country and are in the process of wiring up 180,000 buildings. We have already acquired over 60,000 customers across 410 companies.”

The company has shortlisted 1,200 key corporate accounts and is targeting to register 800-900 of them as its customers. It has already invested Rs 1,500 crore in creating the broadband network and has earmarked another Rs 800-900 crore to be spent over the next few months.

“Broadband penetration in the country is a mere 0.02 per cent,” explains Bajpai. “With the addressable market size estimated at one million subscribers, the market is grossly under-served at present. The opportunity to build robust solutions is huge and we have set a target of 0.5 million subscribers within a year.”

Reliance will provide customised solutions for enterprises to deliver voice or complex data solutions, including nation-wide networking of all branches, sales and field executives, vendors, suppliers and customers at a data transfer speed of 64 kilobytes per second to 100 megabytes per second.

“We are eyeing 35-40 per cent of the IT expenditure of companies coming our way. The broadband service will not only offer speedier connections to the Internet, but also help firms network their branches through Centrex like architecture. This will result in a 25-30 per cent savings for firms,” said Bajpai. He added that Reliance would first create the infrastructure to deliver broadband applications.

According to Bajpai, while big companies will adopt the larger integrated solutions, the real growth will come from the SMEs, which will contribute to volume growth.

“We have already got 40 per cent share of the wired building network. The aim is to cover 17 lakh buildings within the next two to three years, with a target of acquiring 10 million customers,” said Bajpai.

On the retail broadband or Home Netway front, Reliance Infocomm is in the process of conducting pilot projects in Mumbai, Jamnagar and Delhi. In Bengal, the company has an arrangement with the nodal agency Webel to provide the last mile connectivity through cable operators.

“With no benchmark to guideline available on the retail broadband front, we prefer to extend the pilot projects to more cities. Within the next 8-10 months we expect to be able to cover 20 million households,” he added.

[d2e 0]

it is based on microsoft's iptv (internet protocol tv)

jv of microsoft india & reliance infocomm