Airtel has tied up with with Infosys for its direct-to-home (DTH) service, Airtel digital TV. As part of the partnership, Infosys will provide a suite of products including devices, application servers and interactive applications that will provide users local city information through applications such as iCity, internet-like experience with iNet, live stock quotes, breaking news, cricket scores, shopping deals and horoscopes. The Airtel digital TV DTH service will also provide an application called tportal that offers select websites packaged for TV-viewing.

The Airtel digital TV DTH service uses the latest MPEG4 standard with DVB S2 technology for high defintion picture and audio quality. Airtel digital TV uses a larger dish antenna that claims to offer better performance during rain.

The Airtel digital TV DTH service, offers a universal remote for Set Top Box and TV highest Set Top Box memory, interactive applications, such as iMatinee (Book cinema tickets), iTravel (Browse and book travel
packages), iShop (Shop on TV for your favorite brands), iCity (Get your city’s information) and Widgets (Update yourself on latest stock news), 8 screen iNews, and 2 / 4 screen iSports.

The Airtel digital TV DTH service also comes with games that are refreshed every six weeks, audio gain control for uniform audio levels across all channels, intuitive search, on screen account meter, last viewed channel in case of power disruption/switch off, and low battery indicator on the screen.

Airtel digital TV was launched in Kolkata and other cities in eastern India, on October 9, 2008. Airtel plans to launch the Airtel digital TV DTH service in 20 cities in the Eastern region, in the next six months.

Entry-level Airtel digital TV packs cost Rs 2499, for one-time installation charge and six-month free subscription. Extras like selective channels will start from Rs 99 and all channels will be available for a maximum of Rs 424 per month.

Customers can go for the Airtel digital TV value pack as well, which will cost Rs 99, with three regional channels, Akash Bangla, 24 Ghanta, and NE TV.

The Airtel economy pack will come for Rs 199. With the economy pack, customers will be offered nine channels from the East, which will include the three channels from the value pack. The economy pack will also come with ETV Bihar, OTV, ETV Oriya, Zee Bangla, ETV Bangla, and Star Ananda.

Airtel will also provide the Bengali radio channel ‘Sonar’ as part of its World Space offering.

The Airtel digital TV DTH service will be available through 21,000 retail points, including Airtel relationship centres in 62 cities across the country.

Airtel launched its Airtel Digital TV DTH service, in south India, on October 14, 2008, in Tamil Nadu and other key markets of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry.

During the launch period, the Airtel Digital TV DTH service comes with limited-period offers, such as the South Silver Offer, that includes a one-time installation charge and a year’s subscription free for Rs. 2000.

The South Value Pack offers 79 channels, including popular regional TV channels, movies on demand, interactive application, and World Space radio, at Rss 99 per month.

Atul Bindal, President - Telemedia Services, Bharti Airtel, said “DTH is the future of television in India and with Airtel digital TV we bring the best combination of latest technology and exciting content to customers. The southern region has been a key market for Airtel and over the years we have delighted millions of customers with our telecom services. Now with Airtel digital TV, we plan to deliver a magical in-home entertainment experience to customers in the region.”