Updated on (19 January 2009 10:30 pm)
(19 January 2009 2:30 pm)

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel today launched its internet protocol television (IPTV) service, becoming the first private operator in the country to join the triple play game.

The new service, under the Airtel Digital TV Interactive brand, is initially launched in the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi, Gurgaon and Noida, and will later be available in eight metros.

"We will follow NCR with launches in Mumbai and Bangalore before moving to five other metros. With the launch of our IPTV service, we are offering our customers a single unified bill for voice, broadband and TV and video entertainment," says Bharti Airtel president-Telemedia Services Atul Bindal.

The entry subscription price is at Rs 599 per month and will come along with broadband. In the Combo Pack, users will get 117 channels including 256 kbps broadband speed with download limit of 2.5 GB.

Airtel Digital TV Interactive also offers the Magic@ Home Pack at Rs 999 per month. The triple play plan provides 135 channels including 256 kbps broadband speed with unlimited download, and a landline connection.

"While at present we are offering these two packages, with time we will introduce more packages," says Bindal.

The service also offers Time Shift application which allows viewers to pause and rewind live TV as well as record and store programmes for seven days. The other features include real-time interactivity where customers can order pizzas and book movie tickets on their TV.

State-owned BSNL and MTNL have already started offering IPTV services, but growth in subscriber numbers have been muted.

Airtel plans to leverage on its existing subscriber base to push its DTH and IPTV services.

In October 2008, Bharti Airtel had launched its direct-to-home (DTH) service Airtel Digital TV.