Airtel IPTV Launched

[proton8454]

Pretty disappointed that this is not a typical IPTV that uses VLAN to differentiate traffic but CDN streams. So buying a nice HTPC, using a custom IPTV app, streaming using Tailscale, integrating streams in Plex, et al, is off the hook.

 

[pillaicha]

Saw it at a friend’s place in Kochi. Really shoddy compared to DTH. Him having a 65 inch OLED doesn’t help. The quality difference is noticeably worse.

Pretty dumb implementation. Rushed and poorly researched. They had plenty of opportunity to implement high quality streams via multicast internally on their fiber network.

 

[bk~]

If they want to improve the IPTV quality they can do it now also but looks like their intention is not to provide the high quality streams maybe to save costs. At least they can provide better quality stream for those who have 100mbps or higher plan.

 

[Kaiju404]

As a rule of thumb, don't expect too much from these money minded companies. Their homes might be equipped with world class tech , but its not for public consumers.

 

[pillaicha]

What costs are they saving? The reason for the existence of multicast is so that no operator needs to ever worry about overloading their networks.

I fail to understand why ipv6 multicast wasn't the choice by default to enable lakhs of concurrent customers to stream the channels they need without having to rely on CDNs. There'll be a slightly higher latency to change channels compared to DTH, but it would have been barely noticeable. And by using multicast, they would be able to onboard customers on their own fiber network, as well as the ones on LCO-managed networks.

 

[Kaiju404]

They will do whatever it takes to save few rupees here and there, otherwise XGS-PON, wired fiber expansion, multicasting and the likes would have already come to India. Maybe its used in their own local setup but take it in writing , they will always try to cut cost for public implementation.

 

[f0r3he4d]

using ipv6 multicast is cheaper than CDNs.

 

[pillaicha]

I was hoping TV providers would migrate away from foreign satellites and their expensive, and more importantly LIMITED bandwidth, and move to IP streaming via multicast. Considering we're in the era advertising 5G and talking about VR/AR gaming with ultra-low latency, it makes very little sense to offer a superior DTH product to your own customers, UNLESS they're already locked into decade-long contracts with the foreign satellite operators. Then it makes sense that they'd want to offer IPTV as an eyewash to look cool compared to the competition, while offering a superior experience on DTH so that the existing customers don't disconnect their subscriptions and run off.

And here I was thinking we'd see an explosion in the number of HD channels, maybe hoping they'd even launch a couple 4K UHD channels with higher frame rates by the time FIFA comes around. Sigh

 

[Kaiju404]

Its not just about contracts, my area lco was saying they are onboarded with lucrative amounts and its always the lco call whether or not they want to associate or not.

 

[f0r3he4d]

luckily i quit my airtel DTH connection after i realised i was paying like 3k a month and the worst part is they make it extremely difficult. I had to follow up for 6 months to get them to stop billing me. But I do see a lot of older aged people still on it and they keep increasing their NCF fees and what not to milk their userbase because they know its a legacy form of entertainment so why not milk them. I guess after these users dwindle or stop existing will they set up shop in robust IPTV support. Indian telcos are mostly running on duct taping and jugaad anyways.