Siti Cable To Share Zee Transponder For Net Services

The Zee family of channels and Siti Cable are looking at providing TV programmes and Internet services from a common transponder.

Siti Cable, one of the biggest cable companies in the country, and the Zee channels _ Zee TV, Zee Cinema and Zee India TV _ are promoted by Subhash Chandra and Rupert Murdoch. The Zee channels are all set to go digital, helping in their compression on one transponder. Eight channels can be digitally compressed on one transponder. Siti Cable will use the same transponder to beam its Internet-based services.

According to a Siti Cable executive, the company will aggressively market its Internet-based services through its cable networks in 40-odd cities. "With the Zee channels soon to be digitised, only half a transponder will be needed. This will leave the other half free for Siti Cable to beam Internet services. Cable operators will downlink the service and distribute it further," he explained. Siti Cable has decided to apply for Internet service provider status. "The proposed zero licence fee for Internet service providers has given our plans momentum," the executive said.

Siti Cable plans to become one of the biggest Internet service providers and foresees 10 lakh subscribers in five years. Its plans include providing Internet services and distance education through its cable networks. The first phase investment is estimated to be Rs 3-4 crore. A pilot project will be undertaken in Delhi or Hyderabad soon to test the viability of the venture.

The first phase of the service will include the metros. The Hinduja-promoted IN Cablenet successfully tested late last year in Mumbai a project involving providing Internet services through cable media.