Expert View

June 5, 2004
Hathway suitable for triple play services

Geetanjali Wadhwa & Pradeep Chakraborty

NEW DELHI -- Hathway, a leading cable TV service provider in India, is planning to pursue consistent growth of its digital cable services and broadband Internet through cable, alongwith bringing down the price of cable Internet access to the lowest in the industry. It recently introduced two new broadband packages -- Rush and Velocity -- alongwith with flexi-surfing service. The company is working with vendors to bring down the prices of access devices and related services. Convergence Plus recently met up with Jayant R. Changrani, general manager, networks and ISP, and head of commercial, Hathway, to discuss the intiatives taken by the company for promoting CAS in the country as it is one of the active players in the market. Excerpts from the interview:

Convergence Plus: How has been the company's performance during the last year? What are its plans ahead?

Jayant R. Changrani: Hathway has expanded its cable Internet services, adding three more cities last year -- Ludhiana, Nasik and Pune. It also doubled its online userbase across eight cities. It recently introduced new Internet Packages -- Rush and Velocity, providing Internet access speed of 128Kbps for as low as Rs. 300 per month. Earlier this year, Hathway reduced its cable modem prices by over 50 percent, to Rs. 2,999. Hathway also started a new flexi surfing online service targeted at the residential users called Webtime. Apart from this, it is also providing VPN and VOIP services.

CP: Tell us more about Hathway's new packages - Rush, Velocity and Webtime.

JRC: Rush and Velocity are aimed at lowering the entry price of broadband cable Internet to attract mass subscribers. Hathway's Internet access speed has been increased from 64Kbps to 128Kbps. Earlier, the entry price was Rs. 650 for a speed of 64Kbps. Slashing the prices by over half, subscribers can access 128Kbps Internet connections for Rs. 300.

It has also increased the speed and download limit for subscribers who pay Rs. 1,000 a month. While the download limit has been increased from 500Mb to 750Mb, subscribers will get access at 128Kbps, up from 64Kbps. Webtime is Ethernet-based online service with flexi surfing option for the residential users. Webtime doesn't require any external device required and is just plug and surf and comes in hourly packages with unlimited downloads and free Internet surfing on Sundays. Hathway also provide various other packages for cable modem services ranging from 128Kbps to 30Mbps.

CP: What are the intiatives taken by the company for promoting CAS in the country as it is one of the active players in the market?

JRC: Hathway has one of the largest deployment of digital conditional access services (CAS) with over 15,000 digital subscribers.

Hathway is set to roll out its digital cable TV services in three metros viz., Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, with digital set-top boxes (STBs). We have selected NDS, a world leader of open end-to-end digital pay TV services for a secure deployment of digital cable TV services. For digital compression and delivery of channels, Hathway has selected Scientific Atlanta, a world leader in digital compression equipment.

Hathway's digital cable TV services will provide digital picture and sound quality with one of the most advanced electronic programming guide, which allows the viewer to access content, synopsis of current or upcoming programs and even a reserve a program for future viewing ushering a new era of world class TV viewing.

CP: What are Hathway's expansion as well as future plans?

JRC: Being also one of the largest cable TV service provider with 2.5 million subscribers, Hathway is planning to pursue consistent growth of it's niche digital cable services and broadband Internet through cable alongwith bringing down the price of cable Internet access to the lowest in the industry.

CP: Has the company decided on the pricing strategy for the packages?

JRC: We are working with various vendors to bring down the prices of various access devices and related services.

CP: Elaborate on company's broadband Internet connectivity strategy.

JRC: Hathway primarily being an MSO with over 2.5 million subscribers, it will continue to push broadband cable Internet and expand Webtime in Class A and Class B cities. Following the current recommendation from TRAI, we'll continue to look out for options to enhance our delivery model.

Being an ISP and ITSP, we are also providing VOIP services. With the launch of digital cable TV services, Hathway is ideally suitable for triple play services for its subscribers.