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Is Tata Sky TV A Great Hit Digital TV Market?

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Digital TV in India is not limited to just clear picture quality anymore; the new Tata Sky adds a whole new meaning to it. It entered the Indian market with the aim of offering a completely new TV watching experience for the viewers in the country and managed to bring a revolution to the television and broadcasting industry.

Initially, it introduced users to better picture quality, and opposite to normal cable television, which raised the standard of Indian television just like in the western countries. But, now with the increasing competition in the market, the brand is offering a lot more than just quality picture. Tata Sky has several features that include recording, High Definition (HD) feature and much more. The brand offers different variants of digital TV like Tata Sky DTH, Tata Sky HD and Tata Sky Plus, which also vary in features, but allows subscribers to make a choice based on their budget and requirements.

As the government of India has recently made digitization of the television compulsory in the metro cities, it has resulted as a blessing for the private companies offering digital TV. Now, individuals prefer to choose private players in the market for their better services and competitive prices.

Today, Tata Sky is definitely one of the best options in the DTH market and leading due to its exceptional quality and unique features, despite of comparatively higher prices than some of its competitors. The brand has designed all its DTH plans after a detailed research on the subscribers’ behavior and preferences when it comes to watching television. All the channels are very well segregated into different categories to suit various different customer profiles. This way it becomes easier to choose plans including channels of their choice, which benefit them in terms of money and entertainment.

We at Connect India offer a wide range of Digital TV plans, be it Tata Sky DTH, Tata Sky HD or Tata Sky Plus. Here, you get a wide range of options, so you can compare and buy a plan matching your requirements and budget.

Vodafone Top Official Manu Kapoor Quits

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The leading mobile network provider, Vodafone India has recently lost one of its top executives, Manu Kapoor. Kapoor was working with the brand as director for the external affairs since March 2012. The company has decided to replace him with Rohit Adya, presently heading operations. As per the information available, Kapoor has given a prior notice though he will serve the company till the end of June 2013.

According to an official Vodafone statement, “Manu joined Vodafone India in March 2012 to set up the External Affairs portfolio and has played an important role in helping the business connect better with the external environment and to smoothen out the communications agenda for the organization”.

The biggest surprise was that his resignation has come at a crucial time, when the company is in a legal battle with the Indian Government on charges of tax evasion; the amount being around $2 billion.

Kapoor has also worked, with another telecom giant, Reliance Industries in the past and joined Vodafone while the Indian government was planning to change the tax laws.

Vodafone has performed really well in the past one year, especially its Vodafone 3G data card that has become very popular. The brand has emerged as one of the toughest competitor in the Indian mobile and data cards market, as Vodafone has worked towards improving its services and network coverage. Furthermore, Vodafone’s popularity can also be attributed to its unique and interesting advertising and marketing campaigns and the use of ZooZoo characters.

While Vodafone’s closest competitor is Airtel in the mobile market, it has several other competitors like MTS, Airtel, Tata, and many others in the data cards space. Now with Vodafone having found a new Operations Head in Rohit Adya, the company seems to be poised to scale new heights.

How To Find The Best Data Cards In the Indian Market

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We are increasingly becoming a world which is dependent on the Internet for various needs, from simple to complex. Indians are no different. Booming with various Internet providers who are offering a range of Internet services like Hi-speed data cards, 3G data cards and wired and wireless connectivity, the market is growing fast. While this means that consumers can get plenty of choices, it also means that one has to choose only after careful consideration.

As the competition among the service providers heats up, there is a growing demand for good support and service.  Only those providers that offer consistently good service and connectivity are able to win over consumers and become leaders. That’s why some of the top data cards service providers in the industry including include (MTS data cards, Idea Netsetter, Tata Photon Plus, and Reliance data card. Not just that, top providers like Tata, Reliance and Airtel offer attractive plans from time to time. Every Internet provider, these days, is trying hard to increase their customer base and cut out the competition in the market.

So the moot question is how do you determine which provider offers best data cards? Here are a few quick points to consider:

1.             What Internet speed do you need?
2.             Do you want wired, wireless or portable connection?
3.             What is your data requirement every month?
4.             Your budget?

Once you are clear with this, then move on to the next step. Find out the active service providers in your area, this is especially true for fixed and wireless connections. You can use Connect India website to compare various data plans based on speeds and pricing as well as find out some of the best data cards in India here

Top 3 Reasons To Buy An Airtel Digital TV Connection

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It’s that time in India, when TV viewing experience is on the threshold of change. With the HD digital TV revolution, all eyes are tuned to Digital TV and its features. Whenever you watch TV, you are inundated with advertisements for “Direct-To-Home” or DTH providers like Airtel Digital TV, Tata Sky, Videocon D2H and more.  However, in order to get a DTH connection, you will need to get a set top box with or without a “personal video recorder: PVR”.

A DTH connection includes a Dish Antenna and a set top box. So, knowing what your DTH provider is going to give you as hardware will help you determine if you TV is compatible with it or not. Listed below are some pointers to ensuring you get the best DTH connection, whether it is Airtel Digital TV, Airtel DTH HD or any other like TATA Sky etc.

3 Reasons to Buy an Airtel Digital TV

1.       Set Top Box or Recorder
You have the choice of getting a set-top-box or a set-top-box with recorder. A standard Airtel DTH STB will only relay channels and not allow you to do much else. But, subscribing to Airtel DTH HD recorder is a good option, though you may have to pay a slight premium to record your favorite shows, skip ads, pause live TV and watch movies on demand.

 2.       Ease of Use
When you buy an Airtel DTH connection, you benefit from a wide range of user friendly features. Also, Airtel DTH TV is easy to use and allows you flexibility, without overwhelming you with technology. Airtel allows you to make Airtel DTH recharge online as well as allows you to choose from various Airtel DTH plans whenever you want.

 3.       Remote Scheduling
Whether you want to record your favorite Soap or a cricket match that you may miss out on, remote scheduling is a great way to ensure that you get to watch all your favorite programs, anytime you want.

There are several other reasons to buy an Airtel DTH connection, so visit Connect India to know about them.

How To Choose The Best Broadband Service Provider

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You already know that broadband connection is faster than the traditional internet connection and offers you a host of features. In this blog post we talk about the important facts you need to look at when choosing the best broadband service.

Factors That Can Help You Choose The Best Broadband Connection

Speed – it’s the most important factor. Speed or bandwidth, calculated as megabits per second (Mbps) or kilobits per second (kbps), is definitely a point of concern. Ask the broadband provider regarding the speed (upload and download). Usually, wired connections are faster than wireless connections. Some of the hi-speed broadband providers in India include:

1.    Reliance Broadband
2.    Tata Photon Broadband
3.    Airtel Broadband
4.    Hathway Broadband
5.    Tikona Broadband etc.

Security – a crucial fact to consider, especially in today’s context where most computers are vulnerable to virus and hacking attacks. The best broadband service should have inbuilt security features as well as external security features. You should also set up an anti virus, firewall, or DNS on your computer for enhanced security. Also take timely backup of your data to ensure its safety.

Limits – It’s advisable that you choose your plan based on the amount of data you use per month. Reliance broadband offers several unlimited plans at reasonable rates. Even Airtel broadband provides several plans that allow high speed service and unlimited data of up to 30 – 40 GB (Gigabytes) or even higher. However the heavier your usage, the more expensive the broadband plan.

Costs – Broadband service providers offer a wide range of plans with different features to suit all pockets. Whether you like to only surf the internet, or work from home, or stream videos etc, there is a plan for you. The cost of your plan may vary from provider to provider and location to location. So check this factor carefully.

Knowledge is power. So consider these factors carefully and choose wisely.

Idea Netsetter – A Quick And Easy Way To Access Internet

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Today, everyone wants to connect to the Internet, since it is one of the biggest sources of information. There are several ways to connect to the Internet, including the more common traditional modems, wi fi routers, and USB sticks.

USB data cards like Tata Photon Plus, Docomo data card, Reliance Net connect and Idea Netsetter provide you a quick and easy way to connect to the Internet. Data cards can be plugged in to computers to access the Internet on the go or for freedom from wires. Data card is the best option for both, light and heavy Internet use.

Idea Netsetter is a 3G USB data stick that offers excellent hi-speed connectivity, along with plans that fit every person’s pocket. Idea has introduced this stylish and efficient product in the market, keeping in mind today’s customer’s requirements. These plans are designed to offer consumers cost-effectiveness, while also giving higher speeds and better connectivity. Available in retail shops across the country, Idea Netsetter can also be bought and recharged online.

Idea Netsetter Data card offers a whole lot of features like HSUPA data service of up to 5.76 Mbit/s or 7.2 Mbit/s, as well as EDGE and GPRS packet data service with speeds ranging from 236.8Kbit/s to 85.6Kbit/s. So the data card is a typical plug and play (PnP) device that supports upto 32 GB of data storage as well.

Netsetter data card by Idea supports all operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux versions like Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Xandros among others.

Idea Net setter is a Micro SD card and priced at Rs.1, 299.00. And connection is available in 2G and 3G speeds. Prices vary as per the requirements. While it’s true that Idea doesn’t provide the best customer service, its data card does offer good connectivity and reach.

How To Choose Best Data Cards In India

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Until a few years ago, data cards used to come with very few options. However, all that has changed and today, there is a wide range of data cards to match different requirements. What this means for you, the user, is figuring out how to choose the right data card that money can buy. Read on…

Data cards like Reliance data card, Tata Photon Plus, MTS data cards work on work on CDMA 1X technology and offer speeds of up to 2.1 Mbps. Nowadays, telecom operators also offer 3G speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps. Several service providers like Reliance Netconnect or MTS Mblaze offer hi-speed connectivity, on the go, allowing download/upload of large files, songs, movies, etc with ease.

Hi-speed data cards are the best data cards in the market, because they allow you to make video calls, watch videos on YouTube and, pretty much, stay connected to the Virtual world from anywhere. Tata Photon Plus, Idea Data Cards, Vodafone Net Cruise CDMA and many others, offer various features based plans for different user requirements.

Your monthly bill amount will depend on the plan you choose. For ex: if you want an ‘Unlimited Data’ plan then there is the Rs. 699/- unlimited plan by MTS, with 6GB download, with coverage in 14 circles such as Andhra Pradesh, Bihar-Jharkhand, Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Reliance also provides an economical plan, with a base price of Rs. 750/ month for 5 GB (2G & 3G), and coverage in over 800 cities (including some remote areas).

Whether you are in a major city or in some remote region, chances are you will be able to access internet to get all your business completed using a data card or a USB stick. As, best data cards allow you portability and by its virtue, flexibility.

Custom Made Packages On Airtel Digital TV

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Airtel Digital TV service was launched in 2008 and is owned and run by Bharti Airtel, one of India’s top Mobile service providers. Subscribers of Airtel dish TV can enjoy over 218+ Channels out of which 17 Channels are High Definition. Subscribers of Airtel DTH TV can enjoy services like “Pay per View”, customizable plans, Airtel DTH recharge over the Internet among others.

Airtel Digital TV has been rated by Living Digital Magazine as the “Best DTH Service” in India as well as has been named as the “Most tech savvy operator” and the “most technically advanced service” by Times of India. In an independent survey taken out by Techwek.com, Airtel Digital TV (HD) Recorder got a rating of 9/10 in a review for “the best HD DVR in India” beating Tata Sky+ HD.

There are plenty of other reasons why subscribing to Airtel Dish TV is a good decision. Airtel’s DTH subscription comes in a wide range of plans, most of which are customizable. Not only can you buy just a specific pack of channels, you can also buy a monthly, quarterly, half yearly, or annual plan. There is choice of 128 to 226 channels in each of these plans. The A la Carte Package allows you to select only those channels that you like to watch.

Airtel also provides its subscribers the facility to recharge their package or buy an additional package online. Airtel DTH online recharge is easy and quick. You just need to visit their website using your computer or mobile and get your Airtel DTH recharge done in a matter of minutes. Airtel Dish TV comes with 4 different set top boxes – Standard, HD, HD+, and HD Recorder. The Airtel HD recorder has a 160GB hard disk and allows for 150 hours of live TV recording.

Most Preferred DTH During Digitization India

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As per a report by IAMAI, over 120 million Indian use the Internet, leading to the need for digitization. Also, the Information and Broadcasting (I & B) ministry has accepted TRAI’s recommendations for implementing “digital addressable” cable television systems in the country. Fortunately, digitization will make the customer the primary beneficiary as they will benefit from much better quality of TV viewing and an enhance experience.

This bill expects to ensure that by end of 2014, the entire analog cable section is digitized. While, digitization is already mandatory in the four major cities – Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, phase II will include cities with 10 Lakh+ population, and phase III would include the rest of the country. Some experts believe that the entire process of digitization will require an investment of between Rs. 40, 000 to Rs. 50, 000 Cr.

This presents a huge business opportunity for Media and Telecom Industry majors like Dish TV by Zee, Tata Sky by Tata and Airtel TV by Airtel among others. Why? Because even those Indians who subscribe to cable TV will switch to one of the major and more established players! There will also be a significant rise in the Average Revenue per User or ARPU.

However, that also means healthy competition between the various DTH players. Today, there are about 5-6 major private players offering DTH services in India. Tata Sky, Dish TV, Reliance Big TV, Videocon d2h, Airtel TV are some of the main ones.

In fact, DTH players are coming up with innovative offers and schemes to ensure that they attract more consumers. In a brand perception and recall survey conducted on DTH customers, Tata Sky emerged as the winner with 38% votes, while Dish TV followed behind with 24%. Most customers also felt that Tata Sky offered better customer service and quality.

Dish TV Gains More Pay-TV Subscribers in Quarter 4

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Dish TV, the biggest DTH (Direct-To-Home) service provider in India has reportedly seen hike in its shares after the end of fourth quarter. According to the analysts reports presented on Wednesday i.e. 20th Feb 2013, their revenue for quarter four are above expectations, but its pay-TV consumers additions dropped down.

Apart from the revenues, the company also revealed its customer data for broadband services. The company further reported that it has added around 14,000 pay-TV members in its Q4. This marked consecutive growth from Q2 and Q3, but was lower than 22,000 subscribers which were added in quarter 4 2011.

As per the estimations made by market analysts, Q4 will add 45,000 net subscribers with some predicting that Dish could top 100,000 additions, thanks to demand for its Hopper Dish TV HD Set Top Box.

According to IBD’s report, its competitor satellite broadcaster, DirecTV Group (DTV) on Thursday revealed that it added 103,000 clients in the United States in previous quarter as compared with 125,000 in the year-earlier quarter.

Dish TV revealed that by 31st December 2012, it had 183,000 broadband subscribers in total including 78,000 subscribers of 2012. EchoStar (SATS) and ViaSat (VSAT) are the companies to which Dish TV resells its satellite broadband services.

Dish network said Q4 income fallen 1% to $3.63 billion dollars, which is ahead of expectations. Revenues dropped to 46 % per share from 70 % per share in the year-earlier phase including one-time items.

To know more about Dish TV offers and Dish TV recharge options and packs, visit our website www.connectindia.in.