Hyderabad's Goldstone Technologies to launch IPTV services in Malaysia, Thailand
15 Nov 2007
Hyderabad: The Hyderabad-based software technology and services company Goldstone Technologies Limited, as part of its strategy to expand into IPTV services, will launch IPTV services in Malaysia and Thailand.
Goldstone has tied-up with MOL AccessPortal Berhad (MOL) of Malaysia to launch the IPTV service in Malaysia. MOL specialises in internet media and e-commerce. It is the largest online gaming aggregator in Malaysia and has three wholly-owned subsidiaries engaged in media content and online payment service providers. MOL is controlled by Tan Sri Vincent Tan, the chairman of the Berjaya Corporation Group of Companies, one of the most diversified conglomerates in Malaysia with activities ranging from retailing to property investment and development and interests in several international franchises including Starbucks, Kenny Rogers Roasters, 7-Eleven and Wendy''s in Malaysia.
In Thailand, Goldstone Technologies has signed an agreement with Synap Media & Infotech Co. Ltd, a business group which is aspiring to have a strong presence in the hospitality industry in Thailand. Synap is a group promoted by various media and financial professionals, with interests in hospitality industry, to carry out media business including IPTV in Thailand and Hongkong. Synap is already in the process of launching its hospitality services in 2,000 hotel rooms in Thailand. Goldstone will provide a portfolio of programming through its IPTV service in Thailand.
"Malaysia has sizeable Indian population but currently only one Hindi and three Tamil channels are available from existing service providers. With Goldstone''s IPTV services, subscribers will not only have wide option to watch Indian TV channels but also able to watch on demand movies and TV programmes which are not available currently through any service provider" said Ganesh Kumar Bangah, CEO of MOL.
"Thailand is very attractive destination for tourism not only for Europeans but also from Indians. However for accessing TV channels, individual buildings have to create a small CATV network with lot many dish antennas of their own for viewing various channels. With Goldstone IPTV service, it will be easy to provide Indian and European content to customers without any hassle." Said Vanchai of Synap.
Goldstone has set up its Network operating center in Taiwan and currently 20 TV channels are already being streamed live alonwith movies in Hindi, English and several Indian regional languages. Goldstone strategy is to become Ethnic TV of the world starting with non resident Indians.
Apart from its global IPTV service, Goldstone Technologies Limited also has its IPTV services project underway in India, in association with the public sector Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited over its broadband network.
"IPTV is the way people will increasingly watch television programming, and we are ahead of this curve, to leverage on this growing segment," said Travis Caddell, Managing Director of Goldstone Technologies Limited.
The Goldstone IPTV Network is the only network of its kind in the world to provide full-fledged services ranging from live channels, Video-on-Demand and other value-added services on a public network directly to TV. It uses a patented technology for Triple play services which delivers excellent quality video to subscribers, anywhere in the world, at only 600 kbps. The services are being offered under the brand name TV Origin.
Goldstone Technologies Limited is part of the diversified and listed Goldstone Group of Hyderabad, providing IT enabled services. In addition to expanding its IPTV business, the company has recently diversified into media restoration, colorisation and re-colourisation for which it has set up a digital media lab and acquired rights to Indian black and white films and is in the process of acquiring rights for more old classics. The company is also moving into Biometrics space with acquisition of majority stake in 4G Informatics Pvt Ltd.