Colba.Net Telecom extends IPTV services to Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Colba.Net Telecom, a Canada-based competitive service provider, on Monday said it will offer its IPTV service in three new markets: Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The IPTV drive follows the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission's (CRTC) decision to approve Colba.Net Telecom's application for  a broadcasting regional license.

Similar to other telcos like Bell Canada (NYSE: BCE) and SaskTel, Colba.Net will offer various HD channels, including a number of popular American and Canadian channels.

"By offering IPTV service, Colba.Net is now a player in the big league of telecom providers and cable distributors," said Joseph Bassili, president and CEO of Colba.Net, in a release announcing the IPTV expansion.

With an expanded IPTV offering in hand, Colba.Net will be able to effectively compete with area telcos such as SaskTel, which has been offering IPTV for a number of years over its Fiber to the Node (FTTN) network, for example. Last August, SaskTel upped the ante of its video service offerings by launching its infiNET Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) program that was set to pass 40,000 homes by the end of 2012.

However, the main leader in Canada's IPTV market in terms of subscribers is Bell Canada. In Q3 2012, Bell Canada added 42,973 new Fibe TV customers, surpassing the 200,000 subscriber mark. 

Overall, more Canadian consumers are tuning into IPTV. According to a new report by IHS Screen Digest Television Intelligence, 9.6 percent of Canadian pay TV subscriptions were with IPTV providers in Q3 2012.

For more:
- see the release

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