GOVERNMENT TELECOM FIRM EYES CABLE TVS

Leading local telephone services provider Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) is examining a proposal to enter the cable TV market. The Hinduja-run MSO InCableNet has proposed that it be allowed to use its infrastructure to lay cable. MTNL has a well-laid out telecom network in the city and InCablenet wants to use its ducts to enclose its cable. The company is also open to setting up a joint venture with MTNL for the same purpose.

InCableNet has in recent times deployed nearly 10 km of fibre optics in Mumbai as part of a project which seeks to link its headends spread all over the city. InCableNet has applied to the government for an Internet licence and is in talks with computer networking company Microland for hardware to allow it to offer Internet services to its subscribers.

MTNL, meanwhile, says it will start its own Internet services by 26 January.