India’s premier integrated digital distribution company — that offers digital cable, HITS (Headend-In-The-Sky), broadband, content and teleshopping, NXTDigital Ltd (NDL) — on Thursday launched 40 NXTHubs across India and unveiled a value-added app for its last-mile owner (LMOs), which it described as ‘Partnership for Growth 3.0’.

Following the launch of its pilot in Ranchi, these NXTHubs were electronically launched at an event in Hyderabad across 13 States, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, amongst others.

As per the company’s press release, each NXTHub is owned and operated by NDL and is equipped with the latest technology comprising an ADDS or advanced digital distribution system to distribute over 650 digital TV services received via satellite to LMOs and their customers.

The NXTHub plug-and-play model eliminates the need for LMOs to invest in the headend and related technology. Besides video and broadband, these NXTHubs are future-ready to offer a slew of additional digital services, including OTT and wifi.

According to the company, each location has been strategically chosen to augment the company’s footprint across the country, which today stands at over 4,400 pin codes, as well as focus on markets where LMO growth is constrained by the ability to invest.

For LMOs, this plug-and-play solution facilitates going ‘digital’— literally overnight — offering their customers over 650 digital television channels and other digital services.

NDL has planned a total of 100 such NXTHubs for this financial year that will further strengthen its footprint across the country.

Commenting on the NXTHub initiative, NXTDigital Limited MD & CEO Vynsley Fernandes said, “One of the key principles of the Hinduja Group is ‘Partnership for Growth’. After 2.0 saw the launch of HITS to connect LMOs in even the most remote locations through the only-satellite-based cable TV platform in India; 3.0 focuses not just on strengthening the overall ecosystem we have built, but harnessing the convergence of technologies – to be delivered through a national network of NXTHubs.

“Video and broadband are only the starts of the digital highway of services that we have developed for roll-out, backed by a robust suite of innovative apps developed by service providers, exclusively for our LMOs and subscribers.”

According to SY Srikumar, Regional Head for Andhra Pradesh & Telangana at NXTDigital, “We’re proud that 16 of the 40 NXTHubs are in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana alone, and this national launch from Hyderabad reflects our commitment to LMOs here and the subscribers who expect a high quality of service.”

NDL, which has always been at the forefront of using technology to boost the digitization of its networks and, thereby, deliver the best customer services, also announced the launch of its new APIs or application programme interfaces for its NXTDigital HITS service as well as a pre-integrated mobile app solution from ‘Mobiezy’ under its value-added apps for partners scheme.

“This initiative will empower subscribers to pay online and subscribe to the channels they want to watch and get it activated on their TV sets in real-time without any delay. Without needing to undertake any software development, LMOs can approach Mobiezy for their pre-built and pre-integrated solution that uses NXTDigital’s new APIs and can be up and running with their mobile apps within just a few days,” said NXTDigital group chief technology officer RU Ediriwira.

NDL has also been working on an infrastructure sharing model, which will help other MSOs reduce operating costs, improve the quality of services in tough markets, especially rural, by riding on the HITS platform that covers all of India.