Aksh Optifibre sets up network operating centre in Jaipur

Jaipur: Aksh Optifibre, the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) partner for MTNL and BSNL, is planning to ramp up its presence in Rajasthan.

The company, which has already launched its services in Jaipur, Alwar and Kota is all set to roll out services in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Ajmer by the year-end.

The company is setting up Rs 30-crore network operating centre in Jaipur to cater to cities across the state, Aksh Strategic Initiatives Head Ashok Kumar Wahi said.

'We have around 3,000 bookings for IPTV in Rajasthan and with three more cities on board, we are expecting a considerable rise in the numbers by this fiscal,' he said adding that the company is eyeing 70,000 IPTV customers across the country by the the end of this financial year.

The company charges Rs 150 per subscriber for a bouquet of 130 channels. Apart from all the major free-to-air and pay channels, the company also telecasts local channels.

'We have tie-ups with local channels in all the states so that our customer do not miss out on local content. Also, we have archived video content, similar to advertisements, as well as services such as video-on-demand, which will increase the average revenue,' he said.

To tap the market, the company would indulge third-party dealers for distribution in the coming weeks.

'We will make IPTV available to every household which has a broadband connection. The services can potentially reach over 4 million MTNL broadband customers in Delhi and Mumbai and over 6 million BSNL broadband customers in 20 cities,' Wahi said.

Aksh has a presence in Delhi and Mumbai with MTNL and about other 20 cities with BSNL. The comapny expects to extend its presence in 60 cities in the next couple of months including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP (West).