Date:01/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/01/stories/2008100154530400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Arasu Cable to procure advanced digital head-end

N. Anand

It will be used for its Chennai operations

CHENNAI: The State-owned Arasu Cable TV Corporation will procure digital head-end from Scientific Atlanta to roll out its services in the Chennai region, said its outgoing chairman and managing director Brijeshwar Singh on Tuesday.

Mr. Singh will take over as chairman and managing director of the National Highways Authority of India on Wednesday. State Information Technology Secretary C. Chandramouli has been given the additional charge.

“My agenda is complete. Our immediate focus is to widen the customer base. We finalised the deal to buy the digital head-end on Monday. Wipro, the system integrator, has asked for 65 days to install the system as against the stipulated 45. Arasu Cable TV services will be launched in the Chennai region during the first week of December,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu on Tuesday.

According to Mr. Singh, the advanced digital head-end is different from those already installed at Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Coimbatore and Vellore control rooms, as it has to be integrated with the conditional access system, set top box and high-definition TV.

Rs. 24-crore investment

“Though we paid 50 per cent more than the existing digital head-ends, we paid less than the market rate due to negotiations. We are investing Rs.24 crore on the Chennai digital control room and digital head-end, including operations and maintenance cost,” said Mr. Singh.