Telus debuts Optik home multimedia service

Telus (T.TO) may have made a strategic investment to expand its Fiber to the Node (FTTN) network, but the service provider's introduction of Optik service suite, a new umbrella term for its new broadband and IPTV offerings, illustrates that the value of the broadband pipe lies in the applications it enables.

Initially available in its British Columbia and Alberta markets, Optik TV provides a number of new features via Microsoft Mediaroom software, while Optik provides up to 25 Mbps of bandwidth with free home WiFi connectivity. One of the key features of Optik TV is PVR Anywhere, a feature that networks all of a user's TVs in the home with one multi-tuner personal video recorder (PVR) so customers can pause a recorded show or movie in one room and pick it up in another room's TV set.

In addition to providing VoD, Picture-in-Picture browsing and Call Display on the TV screen, Telus' Optik TV will add a Remote Recording feature that allows users to program their PVR via a wireless phone or a Web-enabled computer.

The launch of Optik follows Telus' commitment to spend $650 million to upgrade its wireline and wireless networks in its Alberta, Canada market. Similarly, in April Telus announced it would spend $70 million to update its Vancouver Island network to enable higher broadband speeds and high definition TV to better compete with cable competitor Shaw Communications.

For more:
- TeleGeography has this article

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