MTS taps Huawei for new TV platform

Russian service provider MTS has teamed up with Chinese technology giant Huawei to deploy a single multimedia platform for TV services.

MTS has partnered with Huawei to create what it describes as a unified multimedia platform to develop its TV products further across all distribution channels, including mobile, cable, satellite TV and IPTV.

The service provider said that the transition to a new platform would accelerate the introduction of innovative new products and their integration with other products offered by the operator and its palrtners.

MTS has committed to invest RUB2.5 billion (€35 million) in the project. the operator said it expected to be able to double the number of TV channels it distributes in the HD and UHD formats within the next five years, and to treble the number of films and TV programmes it offers on-demand.

The transition of MTS’s TV services to the new platform is expected to be completed next year.

MTS announced its partnership with Huawei at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where it also unveiled a number of new initiatives, including an Internet of Things partnership with Nokia and a commitment to invest RUB9.7 billion between now and 2020 in upgrading and digitizing regional infrastructure in five Russian regions – Voronezh, Rostov, Novosibirsk, Primorsky krai and the Republic of Ingushetia.