RailTel Launches OTT Platform ‘WAVES’ for Prasar Bharati
RailTel Corporation has successfully developed and launched an Over-The-Top (OTT) platform, named WAVES, for Prasar Bharati, India’s public broadcasting entity. The platform, designed to offer a wide array of entertainment and news content, will host all the archives of Prasar Bharati, including content from Doordarshan and All India Radio.
As part of this project, RailTel was responsible for the design, development, and commissioning of the platform, and will also handle its operation, maintenance, and service support for an initial period of five years. To support users and subscribers, RailTel has set up a multilingual, 24/7 Call Centre.
The WAVES app was officially launched on November 20, 2024, at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant attending the launch event. The app is now available for download on Android, iOS devices, connected TVs (Google TV, Apple TV, LG, Samsung, Roku, etc.), Firestick, and Chromecast.
WAVES is designed to serve a diverse audience with its mix of live TV channels, movies, TV shows, games, and live events. It features several industry-first integrations, such as hyperlocal e-commerce shopping platforms, and offers various types of content like e-books, podcasts, magazines, and journals. The platform also integrates with multiple third-party OTT providers, expanding its content reach.
Content on WAVES will be available in standard definition, high definition, and 4K formats. The platform is initially designed to handle 10 million concurrent users and is scalable to accommodate up to 100 million users.
Key features of the platform include:
- Development of a core OTT platform, Content Management System (CMS), and User Management.
- Media Ingestion Room setup and Media Asset Management System (MAM).
- Data and Application DC, DR on the cloud, and Content Delivery Network (CDN).
- Advanced user and content analytics, Digital Rights Management (DRM), and copyright management.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) features such as transcription, translation across 20+ languages, recommendation systems, and usage analytics.
Additionally, WAVES supports multiple subscription options, including simultaneous logins, content quality control (SD, HD, UHD), offline viewing, and a premium ad-free experience. The platform is integrated with ad servers and payment gateways to optimize revenue and global reach.
WAVES caters to a wide range of media services, including live TV channels, FAST TV channels, on-demand video content (AVOD, SVOD, TVOD), live radio content, and on-demand audio content, all in line with industry standards.
About RailTel:
RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, is one of India’s largest neutral telecom infrastructure providers and a trusted end-to-end IT and ICT service provider. The company operates an extensive optical fibre network of 62,000 RKM along railway tracks, a 21,000 KM citywide access network, and over 11,000 Points of Presence (PoPs) nationwide. RailTel is also known for its world-leading public Wi-Fi network, serving 6,112 railway stations across India.
RailTel’s robust infrastructure is supported by a Central Network Operation Centre (CNOC) and regional Network Operation Centres (NOCs). The company offers a wide range of services, including MPLS VPN, leased lines, data centre services, cloud services, security operations, HD video conferencing, retail broadband under the brand RailWire, IT and ICT projects, and more.