The National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT) has recently launched its pay TV business through a DTH satellite technology in SD and HD. "The SD offer includes three packages, from basic to Premium, known as a super package; in addition to the packages 1 and 2, and a combination of these two," said Ramiro Almeida, manager of the office program at PMO, and responsible for the Ecuadorian government's TV Projects. "Additionally, we have an HD offer which we are gradually adding elements to," he said.

The company became part of the pay TV industry in late 2011, with the intention of taking over 15% to 20% of the market. "According to official numbers from the Telecommunications Superintendence, there are around 500,000 pay TV subscribers in Ecuador," he said. The executive stated that as a new player in the market, "it intends to take over 10% of the market" during its first year in business.

The company has three different packages, in addition to HD offers and themed networks. "We intend to launch the pre-paid product soon, and promote our HD offer. PPV will be launched during our first year in business. We want to consolidate the company in the pay TV niche, and offer service packages along with other products such as fixed telephony, broadband services (both fixed and mobile), and mobile telephony," he said.

Almeida also believes the region's pay TV business is currently "expanding", especially as far as DTH goes. "If we take a look at other countries' numbers, such as Brazil, DTH has already surpassed traditional pay TV by 52%, while the same thing is expected to happen in Mexico and Chile later this year," he concluded.