Airtel launches Android based Set Top Box that allows surfing internet on any TV

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel is betting on a new internet-based set-top box to revive its direct-to-home (DTH) business, once said to be on the block, and increase its subscriber base and revenue while competing with Dish TV, Tata Sky and Videocon D2H.
Airtel's new set-top box comes installed with streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube – and soon Amazon Prime – enabling users to view content from these sites on their televisions, in addition to regular TV channels. “It provides seamless integration of viewing online and offline content on a bigger screen," Sunil Taldar, director of DTH business at Bharti Airtel, told ET.

"The early adopters will be existing content consumers who want to view the same content on larger screens… whether we sell through resident welfare associations, modern retail stores or consumer electronic stores, we expect high number of conversions to happen."

The move may help the company increase average revenue per user, which stood at Rs 232 as of December 2016, with higher consumption of data as consumers start watching more video on the internet. A bumpup may also be seen in its fixed-line home broadband business, which at Rs 702 crore contributed 4% to Airtel's revenue. The set-top box, priced at Rs 4,999 for three months, requires a minimum 2 Mbps connection for a smooth experience.

The internet TV-enabling set-top box along with a touchscreen remote will be sold on Amazon from Thursday for a month, after which it will be offered on more online platforms such as Flipkart and Snapdeal, besides offline channels including Airtel stores.