MTNL announces multi play, HDTV on fibre to home

Mumbai: MTNL in association with Aksh Optifibre Ltd, the second largest company in the Indian Optical Fibre cable industry, today launched India's first multi play service and high definition television on 'fibre to home' (FTTH) services.

Replacing the traditional copper line from the exchange to the home called ''the last mile connectivity'' with full end-to-end fibre connection would mean allowing the customers of MTNL to experience world class tele-viewing and internet browsing experience from the comfort of their homes.

MTNL upgraded its broadband infrastructure about three years ago and is currently based on a fibre backbone but the 'last mile' connections between homes and telephone exchanges are almost entirely copper-based.

With implementation of FTTH on last mile connectivity would place India in the league of technologically advanced countries like China, Singapore, Japan and UK where majority of fixed-line operators have replaced their last-mile copper connections with fibre. MTNL with this demonstration have proven the concept of  FTTH creating for multi play- high speed fibre-to-home broadband internet, IPTV and high definition television.

''MTNL believes in providing the latest technology at cost effective prices. We are working closely technology partners like Aksh, to meet the challenge of providing fibre based solutions to all homes in our area of operation. This fibre technology will enable us to bring faster higher-quality, high-definition content and more interactive capabilities to our subscribers than any other platform which exists today. This also places MTNL in the company of leading Telecom operators of the world" said Shri. R.S.P Sinha, Chairman & Managing Director, MTNL.

''The constraint placed by the ''last mile'' copper wire from providing multi play and high definition tele-viewing services will be removed by the availability of Fibre To The Home connectivity," said Dr Kailash Choudhari, managing director, Aksh Optifibre Ltd.

"This will allow the end users who have invested in high definition televisions to enjoy the benefits of their investment in the latest technology. Aksh is proud to announce that multi play and high definition TV is no more a distant dream but an Indian reality.''