Entel starts IPTV operation in Chile

SANTIAGO – Chile’s largest telco Entel has begun delivering triple-play and IPTV services through its newly deployed fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) network.

The fibre-based offerings have initially been launched in a number of areas in the metropolitan region, including Vitacura, Providencia, Las Condes, Ñuñoa, La Reina, Maipú and San Miguel, but Entel’s strategy is to extend the service across the country over the next five years.

Through the move, Entel aims to strengthen its position in the telecom market and gain some traction in the pay-TV segment, in which it is currently far behind the leading operators VTR, Movistar, DirecTV and Claro.

Entel’s fibre services will also enable the telco to commercially bet on convergence, delivering high-speed broadband of up to 300Mbps, and advanced IPTV services including catch-up, video-on-demand and Netflix integration into the hybrid set-top boxes.

The IPTV service is currently being delivered as a standalone service and as a part of the double-play and triple-play options.