The Bulgarian incumbent telco Vivacom has announced that it will launch an IPTV service by the middle of this year.
However, Pari reports that it has refused to provide any details about the service other than that it will be available nationally.
IPTV is relatively undeveloped in Bulgaria, with the only other major telco to operate a service being M-Tel, which launched its offer Quarto last year.
This is currently available in 12 cities including Plovdiv, Varna and the capital, Sofia, but will be expanded to others through partnerships with ISPs.
Vivacom’s new IPTV service will go head-to-head with Blizoo, the country’s recently re-branded leading cable operator. Backed by the Swedish investment group EQT V, it has ambitions plans and aims of have up to 20 HD channels in its offer by the end of next year.

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