(3 December 2009 11:44 am)

MUMBAI: Tata Teleservices has started offering mobile TV on high-speed broadband. With the launch of Photon TV, customers can access channels on desktops and laptops.

The service offers 40 channels via a Photon Plus data card that offers maximum speeds of 3.1 mbps, 20 times faster than what is available on a mobile covering news, sports, entertainment, children's entertainment and some key regional offerings.

Photon TV will allow Tata Photon Plus post-paid users to view a near-live TV feed. Current Photon Plus subscribers will have to download an application to access the service.

Tata Teleservices has tied up with Apalya Technologies that aggregates content and provides it to the service provider. The company has entered into agreements with broadcasters on a revenue-share basis.

Tata Teleservices' offer, however, does not come cheap. The unlimited offer leaves little capacity for data usage for normal internet access. In comparison, a new direct-to-home (DTH) connection at Rs 1,500 plus a six month package of channels free is still cheaper.

Tata Teleservices so far has half a million users of Photon broadband cards.

Says TataTeleservices chief marketing officer Lloyd Mathias, “We have 40 per cent market share in the data card segment and hope to encash our existing customers to use TV. Also it will enhance data usage.”