Bharti Airtel is taking Reliance head-on in the game of telecom business. Three days before the launch of Reliance Jio's broadband service, Airtel announced its Xstream platform comprising video streaming apps for the home entertainment segment.
The company rebranded its Airtel TV platform to Airtel Xstream and announced a suite of streaming devices, including set-top-box and Xstream Stick, for watching content available on the Airtel Xstream app, formerly Airtel TV, on television sets and even on desktops. The Android-based set-top-box, known as Airtel Xstream Box price, with wi-fi and bluetooth connectivity which will enable streaming of videos from mobiles to TV. It can also be connected to the direct-to-home service of Airtel to watch live TV. Also known as the Airtel Xstream 4K Hybrid Box, the set is priced at Rs 3,999.
The company also launched an Android-based Airtel Xstream Stick, similar to Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV stick, that will allow watching content on TVs and personal computers. Airtel Xstream Stick customers will get 30 days of Xstream app content for free and thereafter will need to pay Rs 999 for annual subscription.
Bharti Airtel expects the new platform to provide it inroads in the market when 5G services are rolled out in the country.
The Airtel Xstream app comes bundled with entertainment streaming applications including ZEE5, Hooq, Hoi Choi, Eros Now, HungamaPlay, ShemarooMe, Ultra and Curiosity Stream, as well as songs from Wynk app.
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"Customers can stream video of any app through Xstream stick and Xstream box on their television," Airtel stated during the launch.
With the launch, Airtel takes on Jio Fiber, announced by billionaire Mukesh Ambani on August 13. To be rolled out from September 5, 'Jio Fiber' promises free voice calls for life from landlines, 100 mbps minimum broadband speed at subscription starting from Rs 700 a month and free HD TV set on commitment to an annual plan.
Declaring that the plans will come at less than one-tenth of global rates, Ambani said Jio Fiber plans will be priced between Rs 700 to Rs 10,000 per month "to suit every budget".
The plans will also come bundled with subscriptions to most leading premium OTT applications.
