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Tag: Sunil Taldar

  • Irdeto Partners with Airtel to Secure Content on Airtel’s Digital TV Platform

    Irdeto Partners with Airtel to Secure Content on Airtel’s Digital TV Platform

    AMSTERDAM: Irdeto has partnered with Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s largest telecommunications service provider, to secure all content offered on Airtel’s Digital TV services. As part of the strategic partnership, Irdeto will deploy its security solutions to secure the linear channels offered on the set-top-box and the content offered on Airtel’s hybrid Android TV platform.

    Irdeto will implement its state-of-the-art security solutions – Irdeto Armor for Android TV, Irdeto Cloaked CA and Middleware – on Airtel’s set-top-boxes to deliver the utmost safety for all its valuable content and also provide an improved customer experience.

    “To succeed in today’s ever-evolving pay TV landscape, operators need to offer innovative and secure platforms,” said Doug Lowther, CEO, Irdeto. “Operators must also balance the needs of consumers while maintaining full control of security on their platform. As a security-savvy organization that recognizes the needs of its customers, Airtel is providing a future-proof offering that gives consumers the content they desire and the flexibility they require. This forward-looking approach gives Airtel a competitive edge by delivering secure, premium and innovative pay TV services.”

    Sunil Taldar, CEO – Airtel Digital TV, said, “Customers are at the heart of everything we do at Airtel and delivering a secure platform to them is our top priority. We are delighted to have Irdeto as our partner and bring their expertise to ensure complete security of all content on our platforms.”

    Open platforms like hybrid set-top-boxes offer customers a vast choice of content and a premium user experience. Customers can enjoy flexibility and convenience as they experience content on-demand. While these platforms offer service providers an immense opportunity to meet unique customer demand for content, securing the content is imperative to ensure data protection. Under the partnership, Irdeto will work with Airtel on a robust content protection strategy that also ensures a premium user experience for customers.

    Irdeto will provide advanced security services to Airtel to help the company manage a variety of threats while ensuring an optimal viewing experience. Designed to protect the device, data and services built on Android TV, Irdeto Armor provides Airtel with the ability to securely manage this open platform to better address consumer demand now and in the future. 

  • Tata Elxsi provides CoE for Airtel Internet TV

    MUMBAI: Connected Home Center of Excellence (CoE) of Tata Elxsi, a global design and technology services company which works with leading MSOs, content providers and studios to develop innovative services and applications that create subscriber stickiness, has leveraged deep domain expertise for video, IoT and smart home services. It has also leveraged the experience of open source middleware such as RDK and Android TV, and solution accelerators to support rapid development and deployment of next-generation Connected Home services.

    The Connected Home CoE has successfully worked with leading service providers across the world, enabling the launch of new value-added services in the home context, including OTT, IoT-based security, surveillance and healthcare.

    With increasing demand from consumers for a seamless and connected viewing experience across traditional TV and OTT, operators are considering Android TV as the middleware platform for next-generation set-top boxes and home gateways.

    The latest project executed by the team is Airtel’s Internet TV. Tata Elxsi is proud to be associated with Airtel, as a technology partner for system integration for the Internet TV.

    Tata Elxsi, backed by 25 years of engineering experience and specialisation in video and OTT service delivery, developed and integrated key software components to ensure that the Android TV application suite provides a seamless user experience whether the viewer accesses online or offline content. This includes the OTA (Over the Air) upgrade module, a smart UI, customized Android TV launcher and software optimizations to future-proof the service.

    Airtel Digital TV CEO Sunil Taldar said, “Tata Elxsi has been a valuable partner in our latest innovation – Internet TV. Their engineering and integration expertise in the OTT segment has helped us in building a world-class product.”

    Tata Elxsi VP and head – broadcast business unit K P Sreekumar said, “We congratulate Airtel on the successful launch of the Internet TV. We are proud to be associated with Airtel for India’s first hybrid DTH-TV deployment using Android TV middleware. We believe that the solution has set a new benchmark for next-generation TV service delivery.”

  • Airtel launches hybrid DTH STB, to have 500+ channels, Netflix & YouTube preloaded

    MUMBAI: Airtel Digital TV, the DTH arm of Bharti Airtel, launched ‘Internet TV’ – India’s first hybrid STB, powered by Android TV, which brings the best of online content to the TV screen along with a bouquet of over 500 plus satellite TV channels. This marks yet another industry first from Airtel that has been at the forefront of innovation in the DTH category. 

    As reported by www.indiantelevision.com recently, Airtel ‘Internet TV’ transforms any TV into a Smart TV and enables users to switch seamlessly between online and linear TV content with a single device. With consumption of online content within Indian Homes increasing rapidly, Airtel ‘Internet TV’ will offer customers a superior experience by enabling them to enjoy their favourite content on the biggest screen in their Homes. 

    Customers can now stream and cast their favourite content directly on to their TV as well download their favourite apps and play games. All of this along with the best satellite TV experience with 500 plus satellite TV channels offers the complete Home entertainment experience.      

    Bharti Airtel CEO & director – DTH Sunil Taldar said, “Growing broadband penetration is driving the popularity of online content, particularly in urban homes, and with Airtel ‘Internet TV’ we are bringing world-class content from the web and much more to the TV screen. This latest innovation has been designed keeping in mind the needs of Indian homes and it bridges the gap between online and offline worlds to enable an end to end entertainment experience with the convenience of a single device. We will continue to add exciting content platforms to Airtel ‘Internet TV’ and invite customers to experience this innovative offering.”       

    Airtel ‘Internet TV’ comes preloaded with Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Music, Google Play Games, Airtel Movies and more. It also comes with access to Google Play Store that allows users to download their favourite apps, content and games on to their TV. 

    “India is one of the most important and vibrant countries in the world and we are delighted to be teaming up with Airtel to make it much easier for consumers to enjoy Netflix,” said Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings. “In the months and years to come, we look forward to bringing our Indian members more compelling stories from all over the world, an ever-improving viewing experience and incredible joy.”

    Airtel ‘Internet TV’ comes with inbuilt-Wi-Fi receiver, Bluetooth based remote control and is integrated with Google voice search feature. Customers can discover their favourite content by simply telling the remote and choose from a variety of content sources.

    Offering a clutter-free and intuitive interface, the sleek Airtel ‘Internet TV’ STB is 4K content ready and enables LIVE TV shows to be paused, recorded or even rewind. It also supports content via USB (external HD) and Bluetooth. Customers can also cast, mirror content from mobile devices, tablets and laptops on to the TV screen with Airtel ‘Internet TV’.  

    Gaming enthusiasts can make the most of the Internet TV with the best of gaming apps for an experience that is truly larger than life. Gamers can use physical game controllers, or even their smartphones as a game pad with Internet TV.

    Airtel ‘Internet TV’ STB requires a broadband or a 4G hotspot connection with a minimum recommended speed of 4 Mbps for a smooth online experience. A regular Airtel Digital TV dish antenna will also be a part of the installation. Existing Airtel Digital TV customers can also upgrade their existing STBs to ‘Internet TV’ STB.

    Airtel ‘Internet TV’ is priced at Rs. 4999/- with 3 month Digital TV subscription. Also, as limited period offer customers can pay Rs. 7999/- and get the Airtel Internet TV with one year subscription.  Airtel ‘Internet TV’ will be available exclusively on Amazon India starting April 12, 2017. It will be available via Airtel Digital TV touch points – retail stores/website/contact centers soon after online launch.

    Airtel has also rolled out bundled offers for its home broadband customers. ‘Internet TV’ Customers just need to register for myHOME on MyAirtel app and can avail upto 25GB additional data on their Airtel broadband account every month. 

    Also Read:

    Jio DTH & Airtel ‘hybrid’ reports gain currency

  • Airtel DTH appoints Mondelez’s Sunil Taldar as CEO & MD

    Airtel DTH appoints Mondelez’s Sunil Taldar as CEO & MD

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has finally got the replacement of Shashi Arora, who after a successful stint of around five years as CEO – DTH, has moved as MD & CEO of Airtel Payments Bank. The company has appointed Sunil Taldar as CEO and director – DTH.

    Taldar will be a member of the Airtel Management Board and report to Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) MD and CEO Gopal Vittal. In his new role, Taldar will be responsible for driving growth and innovation for Airtel Digital TV, which is a key growth driver within the company’s B2C portfolio.

    Vittal said that Sunil’s rich experience across consumer facing categories would add value to its DTH portfolio. He said would also thank Shashi for his valuable contribution to Airtel Digital TV.

    Taldar has an experience of over 28 years in the FMCG industry with Mondelez (erstwhile Cadbury), where he held several senior leadership positions across multiple geographies, including India, China, and Singapore across sales, marketing, media and general management.

    In his last role, Sunil was the country head – Indonesia for Mondelez, where he played a critical role in turning around the business. Prior to this, he was India sales director for Cadbury where he transformed the company’s go to market capabilities and delivered solid growth.

    Airtel Digital TV had over 12.4 million customers at the end of the quarter ended September 2016 and the business recorded a revenue growth of 21 per cent and customer growth of 17 per cent for the same period.

  • Airtel DTH appoints Mondelez’s Sunil Taldar as CEO & MD

    Airtel DTH appoints Mondelez’s Sunil Taldar as CEO & MD

    MUMBAI: Bharti Airtel has finally got the replacement of Shashi Arora, who after a successful stint of around five years as CEO – DTH, has moved as MD & CEO of Airtel Payments Bank. The company has appointed Sunil Taldar as CEO and director – DTH.

    Taldar will be a member of the Airtel Management Board and report to Bharti Airtel (India & South Asia) MD and CEO Gopal Vittal. In his new role, Taldar will be responsible for driving growth and innovation for Airtel Digital TV, which is a key growth driver within the company’s B2C portfolio.

    Vittal said that Sunil’s rich experience across consumer facing categories would add value to its DTH portfolio. He said would also thank Shashi for his valuable contribution to Airtel Digital TV.

    Taldar has an experience of over 28 years in the FMCG industry with Mondelez (erstwhile Cadbury), where he held several senior leadership positions across multiple geographies, including India, China, and Singapore across sales, marketing, media and general management.

    In his last role, Sunil was the country head – Indonesia for Mondelez, where he played a critical role in turning around the business. Prior to this, he was India sales director for Cadbury where he transformed the company’s go to market capabilities and delivered solid growth.

    Airtel Digital TV had over 12.4 million customers at the end of the quarter ended September 2016 and the business recorded a revenue growth of 21 per cent and customer growth of 17 per cent for the same period.