Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) The cabinet Thursday approved guidelines for providing Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services in the country.The cabinet also approved amendments to the policy guidelines for downlinking of TV channels to allow broadcasters to provide content to IPTV service providers, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said.

IPTV is a technology which has the capability to delivers digital television signals in form of packets over the Internet to the recipient which can be decoded using a Set Top Box (STB).

“The issuing of guidelines on IPTV will bring clarity on defining the parameters in which such service providers will work, as also clarify how these services are going to be regulated,” Dasmunsi told reporters after a cabinet meeting here presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“Modification of the downlinking guidelines will enable IPTV service providers obtain content of registered satellite TV channels from the broadcasters,” the minister added.

Two public sector telecom companies, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), have already started IPTV delivery in the country using a broadband connection.

Airtel also launched similar services on a pilot basis some time ago in Gurgaon in the National Capital Region.

Reliance Communications (RCom) - the Internet and telephony arm of the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG)- also has plans to launch similar services in the country.

Company president Mahesh Prasad had reportedly said that the company would initiate IPTV services before the end of 2008. RCom late last year had announced IPTV collaboration with Microsoft.

RCom’s parent group ADAG Tuesday also launched its direct-to-home or DTH services under the Big TV brand.