Verizon digital content distribution plans in India set to begin with four points of presence in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi
Verizon Communications’ Digital Media Services in looking to expand its distribution presence announced a partnership with India telecom operator Bharti Airtel to launch “points of presence” in four India markets.
The deal will see the operator take advantage of Airtel’s digital infrastructure, including data center services and network resources, “as a gateway to India” with the initial pops in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and New Delhi. Verizon noted the pops have already shown improved response and delivery time for consumers accessing its digital content, and “marks the beginning of a strong partnership” with Airtel Business as it expands the availability of digital media into India. The telecom operator counts more than 3,000 interconnections worldwide, and pops in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Verizon has been aggressively bolstering its digital media platforms, having recently acquired a number of assets in an attempt to broaden its service offerings. The company last week said it planned to acquire Yahoo’s operating assets for $4.83 billion, which it plans to merge with the previously acquired AOL assets it purchased last year for $4.4 billion.
“The acquisition of Yahoo will put Verizon in a highly competitive position as a top global mobile media company, and help accelerate our revenue stream in digital advertising,” said Verizon Communications’ CEO Lowell McAdam in a statement tied to the Yahoo deal.
The telecom operator also runs its mobile-focused Go90 video service, which is targeted as a rival for “over-the-top” video platforms. The Go90 platform is available to Verizon Wireless customers and those of competing operators, though some analysts have said the Go90 platform has so far failed to gain traction with consumers.
“We believe Go90 will be hard-pressed to mount a meaningful challenge to mobile video and social networking leaders YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Netflix and Hulu,” wrote UBS analyst John Hodulik in the report earlier this year. “That said, Verizon is pulling various levers to ramp up interest in and usage of Go90, including more live and exclusive content and free data for Verizon Wireless customers.”
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