Magyar Telekom to offer commercial IPTV

State-backed incumbent operator Magyar Telekom (MT) has announced plans to offer internet-based commercial TV (IPTV) services. The telco’s entry into the IPTV broadcasting sector is being spearheaded by its Web division T-Online and reportedly has the potential of reaching a near national level – subject to it garnering sufficient customer interest. Hungarian cable operator and internet provider TVnet already offers IPTV in Budapest to broadband subscribers, but its reach is limited to the capital. T-Online hopes to sign up 50,000 subscribers in the first months of operation and is keen to leap on the IPTV bandwagon given the low capital cost of investment. TVnet set up its IPTV service at the start of 2006 for less than USD500,000.