Colba.Net Telecom Gets Approved to Offer IPTV in Quebec

Internet protocol television (IPTV (News - Alert)), which delivers television services using the Internet protocol suite instead of “traditional” methods of delivering television services to viewers, like cable and satellite, is expanding in Quebec. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) recently approved Colba.Net Telecom’s application to broadcast IPTV services to Montreal, Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Drummondville, Gatineau, Sherbrooke and the surrounding areas.

For viewers, Colba.Net Telecom’s services will mean the ability to stream content from AppleTV, Netflix, and TOUT.TV, as well as a number of popular U.S. channels and high-definition channels. This service is already being offered in the areas served by their Ontario, Atwater and Papineau offices.

The basic package offered by Colba.Net Telecom includes a mix of French and English channels for their French-speaking viewers; some of the channels offered that the competition does not include: RDS, TSN and Much Music. The optional package includes such popular stations as Bravo!, E!, the Discovery Channel, MTC and MTV2. Prices for IPTV start at $19.95 per month in the “TriplePlay bundle,” which also includes high-speed Internet (ADSL2+, which features a speed of up to 24 Mbps and no bandwidth throttling) and VoIP. The total for the “TriplePlay bundle” is $49.90 per month; if purchased separately, the total cost of the services comes out to $79.90 per month.

Colba.Net Telecom is not the first of its kind in the area, so it will have to distinguish itself in terms of services offered, price and quality. Whether or not the company will be able to compete against Bell Canada (News - Alert), which has already launched IPTV service Fibe TV in the area, is yet to be seen. With Fibe TV’s more than 70 international channels, 100 plus high-definition channels and value-added features that include over 20 themed packages, whole-home PVR capabilities and interactive features, the competition will be stiff.