Airtel Digital TV has launched its first indigenously manufactured set-top-boxes. Conceptualized and designed in India, the set-top boxes will be available in HD and henceforth, all Airtel Digital TV set-top boxes will be made in India.
“We are proud to partner with the Government’s Make in India initiative and launch indigenous set-top-boxes made in the country. With this, we aim to reduce our imports and thus, help drive employment and growth within the country,” said Shashi Arora, Chief Executive Officer, DTH/Media, Bharti Airtel.
“In the long run, cost synergies will further help us extend more benefits to our customers.The launch also re-establishes our leadership in offering world class TV viewing experience with innovations such as these,” he added.
“It is great that Airtel Digital TV is aligning itself with our Make in India vision as this will certainly pedal the fast gaining momentum of the initiative further. We wish the company the very best as they step ahead towards transforming the DTH industry in India with this initiative,” said Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting.
Airtel manufactures the set-top boxes in its manufacturing unit in Pune. It comes with features including Full HD 1080p support, MPEG-4 video with Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound; 5X picture clarity; unlimited recording (via USB-drive); and USB-based Wi-Fi connectivity for On-demand, Anytime TV and Interactive Gaming.
Based on an in-house design by MyBox Tech. Pvt. Ltd. (a subsidiary of Hero Electronix) and ST Microelectronics (a multinational manufacturer of Integrated Devices and semiconductors), Airtel promises global standard for its set-top boxes and says it will provide best experience to the subscribers.