Tata Sky to use Thomson set-top boxes for its DTH service

Mumbai : Tata Sky Ltd., the joint venture between the TATA Group and STAR, today announced a partnership with Thomson, a leader in set-top box technology, to support the launch of its Direct-to-Home (DTH) service in mid 2006.

Thomson, well known for providing set-top box technology to leading DTH service providers across the globe, will manufacture set-top boxes in India and provide a country-wide after-sales service and support network for Tata Sky customers.

Tata Sky is investing in building a high quality digital infrastructure in the country for the roll out of its DTH service.

"As the largest and most exciting new DTH TV project in the world, we are very proud to have been selected as a key supplier by Tata Sky," says Koen van Driel, senior vice president, satellite, terrestrial and cable business unit, Thomson.

Thomson says that in addition to meeting the Bureau of Indian Standards requirements, the its set-top boxes will have a feature-rich design that will enable Tata Sky to deliver multiple programming, pricing packages and interactive services to its customers.

Tata Sky, which has ambitions of overtaking rival Zee''s DTH services to be the market leader, says its DTH service will eliminate the recurring problems faced by consumers such as its DTH satellite signal remaining uninterrupted by power cuts and cable cutting, It also says that it will have fixed channel positions and pre-tuned audio levels, which will improve the visual and audio quality of broadcast.