going forwards11 May 2018 22:40
Landmark agreement shows Indian cable operator JPR Network diversifying to deliver TV via mobile
*On-demand streaming enables subscriber growth at fraction of the cost of cable or satellite
*Deal marks Falcon's expansion into India, after concluding agreements in Nigeria, South Africa, Canada and Mongolia
(London, Mumbai) - Falcon Media House Plc, the London Stock Exchange-listed digital technology and media group, today announces that it has agreed to provide live and on demand digital streaming technology to JPR Network, the Mumbai-based cable network provider.
The deal extends Falcon's global footprint to India, the world's fastest growing market for mobile subscribers, following agreements in Nigeria, South Africa, Canada and Mongolia. JPR Network benefits from a partnership in which Falcon provides subsidiary Quiptel's patented Q-Flow open Internet streaming technology, also known as over-the-top (OTT), and Mumbai-based Media Nucleus provides systems integration.
"We're looking forward to delivering the first of many such systems as OTT platforms represent the future of broadcasting," comments Falcon Media House Executive Chairman, Gert Rieder. "Local networks and mobile services in India, Africa and Southeast Asia are not always reliable enough to provide high quality streaming experiences - which is where the Quiptel technology makes a big difference."
Going beyond traditional network limitations, Q-Flow overcomes the challenges of congested and slow connections to deliver content to the end consumer using the most efficient and cost-effective route, resulting in seamless streaming over even the most challenging networks and mobile conditions. Rather than investing in hardware and laying new network cables, Q-Flow enables broadcasters and cable companies to increase customers with a lower capital expenditure, creating a unique win: win solution for both the OTT operator and their end users alike.
The solution is particularly applicable to India, where the number of mobile subscribers is projected to soar by 310 million between 2016 and 2020, almost double the increase in China and beating every other country worldwide, according to GSMA Intelligence.
TV network providers like JPR Network are taking advantage by offering content through OTT at a fraction of the infrastructure set-up cost for traditional cable, typically in the region of US$ 600-1,000 per home. Q-Flow additionally enables JPR Network to increase penetration with its existing 150,000-plus subscribers by streaming content to their mobiles and other devices, while also extending reach beyond its physical geography of Mumbai or even India. Under its agreement with the Falcon and Media Nucleus partnership, JPR Network will pay an undisclosed base plus a fee per subscriber.
The partnership between Falcon and Media Nucleus targets medium and large size broadcasters with a potential reach of 250 million users in India and the partners h