Tata Sky partners with Ericsson to bring 4K to India

Indian direct-to-home (DTH) operator, Tata Sky, has partnered with Ericsson to launch what the pair claim is the first commercial 4K video service in the subcontinent.

Announcing the deal at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Ericsson said will provide HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec) compression technology to support 4K distribution using the high resolution 1080P50 format. This will allow Tata Sky to have cost-effective bandwidth efficiencies while meeting increasing network and consumer demands.

The pay TV provider launched its its 4K set top box in February in time for the ongoing cricket World Cup, which is available to viewers for the first in Ultra HD.

“Tata Sky is committed towards delivering a world class TV viewing experience to its customers. As the discerning customers of today look towards the future of TV, we are pleased to extend our partnership with Ericsson to deliver next generation 4K ultra high definition technology to our customers in India,” said Tata Sky CEO Harit Nagpal.

Chris Houghton, head of Ericsson’s India region, said: “Ericsson is delighted to partner with Tata Sky to roll out India’s first commercial 4K video service. Superior technology, proven industry leadership and service excellence from Ericsson enables Tata Sky to offer a differentiated and future proofed digital experience to its subscribers.”