The company's executives said broadband Internet users would be able to access a variety of content from free-TV channels to provincial satellite and cable-TV programmes at the Maxnettv.net homepage. The site also offers music video clips and links to online radio channels.

Senior vice president Supot Tiarawut said the firm was launching Maxnet TV to make broadband Internet users familiar with viewing TV programmes on the broadband channel before TT&T's subsidiary - Triple T Broadband - kicks off the IPTV service early next year.

IPTV will enable subscribers to access TV and video-on-demand services through a television with a set-top-box. They will be able to select from a range of channels, paying only for what they view.

Triple T is spending about Bt6 billion creating a cutting-edge network across the country as part of its plan to offer the IPTV service.

Existing IPTV service providers include True Corp Plc and Advanced Datanetwork Communication, but their client base remains relatively small as the service is still new in Thailand.

TT&T executive director Suroj Lamsam said the company hoped to have 300,000 broadband Internet subscribers by the end of the year, up from the present 100,000. As part of this drive, the company hopes Maxnet TV will bring in an additional 15,000 broadband Internet users a month.

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation