The FINANCIAL — In partnership with NOVUS Group and United Telecom, for the first time in Georgia digital and HD television NOVUS TV will be available. “We have spent USD 1.5 million on the project and we plan to spend additionally USD 2-3 million in order to fully develop and complete this project,” says Nika Chiaureli, Head of Internet & IPTV division at United Telecom.
According to Telecom officials the project will be launched in Tbilisi from 15 October and soon, at the beginning of the year 2010, subscribers of United Telecom will be able to receive this service throughout the entire territory of Georgia.
“Recently foreign telecommunication companies have been actively working on development of Internet Protocol Television (IP Television). IPTV is digital interactive television that sends a signal to the subscriber with the help of IP network,” United Telecom officials note.
IPTV is a system through which digital television service is delivered using the architecture and networking methods of the Internet Protocol Suite over a packet-switched network infrastructure for example the Internet and broadband Internet access networks, instead of being delivered through traditional radio frequency broadcast, satellite signal, and cable television (CATV) formats.
The term IPTV first appeared in 1995 with the founding of Precept Software by Judith Estrin and Bill Carrico.
The official definition approved by the International Telecommunication Union focus group on IPTV (ITU-T FG IPTV) is that IPTV is defined as multimedia services such as television/video/audio/text/graphics/data delivered over IP based networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and experience, security, interactivity and reliability.
“We plan to launch 5-6 packages, subscribers are also able to add to the package a non-specific number of channels according to demand. This is a totally Georgian project and Georgian professionals have created this project without the intervention of any foreign companies,” Chiaureli told The FINANCIAL.
According to Telecom, NOVUS Group provided technical and programme maintenance of NOVUS TV project and United Telecom had been working on developing the project’s content.
“We have chosen United Telecom, because they have the widest and highest speed network in the entire country which is very flexible, stable, modern and easily accessible,” says Levan Buchukuri, General Director of NOVUS.
“We began preparing for this interactive television project a year ago. Modernization of the network has been implemented, a new infrastructure of totally novel technologies has been created, similar to IPTV. Over the last six months we have successfully examined about 100 subscribers,” Nika Chiaureli says.
According to its officials, United Telecom will offer the NOVUS TV service to its subscribers with individual packages. The interactivity of the technology gives an opportunity to the subscriber to create and fit their own package. Subscribers will be available to use online video, and choose, stop and rewind current TV programmes.
“The consumer at the first stage will be able to get the new package with about 100 channels, including 3 HD channels. The company is still negotiating with some of the famous foreign channels like Time, Warner, Universal, and Disney and so on. In the near future, the addition of some new channels is also planned,” Chiaureli says.
“The minimum price of the package is USD 15 and maximum – USD 35. Subscribers will choose the package that they wish. The technology gives the opportunity to the subscriber to enjoy maximal comfort through being able to pause a live programme and get information about a show at any time,” Chiaureli explains.
According to Telecom officials, at the first stage the service will be limited for the subscribers but after finishing network modernization the whole of Georgia will be able to receive the service.
The subscribers of United Telecom will be able to receive the service of TRIPLE Play, phone, internet and TV under the umbrella of a United package.
Written By Tako Khelaia
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