James R | On 12, Nov 2014

Vodafone will launch its own TV and broadband service in 2015.

The communications firm will use BT infrastructure and its own business fibre network to provide the service.

No details have yet been announced about pricing or content for the service, but Vodafone will have their work cut out for them to carve their own niche in an increasingly crowded sector. BT, Sky and Virgin already dominate the TV and broadband landscape, with a growing number of TV services joining an already jammed line-up of phone and Internet packages.

Only last week, BT has introduced Netflix to its YouView set top box in an attempt to win over customers from rivals. EE, meanwhile, has recently announced its own EE TV service, which, as well as watching programmes on the telly, will allow viewers to stream live and recorded content on up to three smartphones or tablets simultaneously – a mobile-centric plan that sets it apart from the competition. And then, of course, there is the plethora of standalone VOD services, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Instant Video, which do not come as part of bundled TV packages.

If Vodafone can come up with its own unique product, though, or something much cheaper than its rivals, it could well stand a chance.

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