Goldstone Tech to launch IPTV service

Goldstone Technologies Limited is shortly planning to launch what it claims is the first IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service to be accessible from anywhere across the world.

The company is using a patented technology for triple play services, which will deliver quality video at 600 kbps. "This is expected to be the world's first such service to function seamlessly on the public internet," Goldstone stated in a communiqué to BSE.

The technology uses a set-top box connected to a TV to make available live channels, content on demand and also internet browsing without requiring a PC. The integrated digital rights management ensures fully secure delivery of the video addressing concerns of content providers.

Goldstone is setting up a network operating centre in Singapore/Taiwan for delivering the service globally. It has already signed agreements with several Indian and European channels for global distribution. There are also plans to provide features such as on demand movies, game shows, serials, educational content and online gaming.

The company stated it is in an advanced stage of discussions for signing up huge library of movies and other on demand content. It will also provide a host of value-added services such as internet browsing, VoIP, video conferencing and personalised advertising.

The global IPTV services are expected to be operational soon under the brand name TV Origin, initially targeting the NRI audience. The company expects the subscriber base to touch 100,000 by the end of first year.

Goldstone has also signed an agreement with BSNL for providing IPTV services to BSNL broadband customers initially in Hyderabad and later to other cities. BSNL subscribers will not require internet bandwidth for accessing IPTV services. The company is setting up a network operating centre in Hyderabad for this.

This apart, the company stated it has signed an agreement with Asia Today Limited of Mauritius, a subsidiary of Zee Telefilm Limited, to market, sell and distribute Zee channels to subscribers in eight countries in the Asia Pacific region on its IPTV service.

These channels include Zee TV Asia Pacific, Zee Premier, Zee Classic, Zee News, Zee Business, Zee Music, Zee Smile, Zee Punjabi, Zee Gujarati, Zee Bangla and Zee Marathi.

Internet Protocol Television is the system of delivering television and media content to consumers over the infrastructure of the internet.

IPTV services can be delivered to any subscriber in the world, over the public internet by simply connecting a set-top box to the broadband internet connection.

In addition to streaming media content, IPTV services also provide a host of supplementary facilities such as internet browsing, personalised advertising and video conferencing.