Smart Telecom today revealed details of its new triple-play – digital TV, broadband and telephone – service, which it intends to use to compete directly against established players including satellite service provider Sky and cable TV and broadband player UPC.
As originally reported on siliconrepublic.com, the new service has been launched to 1,000 Smart Telecom customers by invitation and features 100 digital TV channels.
The channels include Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Golf, Racing UK, Liverpool TV, Arsenal TV, Celtic TV and NASN, which will be free of charge for one year.
The overall service will be free for the first three months and the electronic programming guide will allow full control of home-phone function from the TV screen and remote control. This technology will show, on screen, who is calling and the customer can choose to accept or reject the call via the TV remote control.
The new triple-play pack will offer line rental, off-peak landline calls, uncontended broadband and digital TV from €38 per month for the first three months, and from €62.99 per month thereafter for all three services.
Commenting on the Launch, John Quinn (pictured), regulatory and development director said, “This is a very exciting day for Smart and shows the true power of our next-generation network (NGN).”
“From today, customers will have a new choice when selecting a provider for all their media and communications needs. Over the coming months, we will be making this service available to the majority of our coverage area, which currently covers over half a million homes and businesses in Ireland.
“We will also shortly be adding a digital video recorder and video on demand offering.”
The technology behind the offering is powered by Thomson, which currently has over one million subscribers in France.
By John Kennedy
