Netflix finally comes to India, plans start at Rs 500 a month

The popular video on demand service, Netflix, has officially launched operations in India and 130 other markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe on Wednesday.

The U.S. based video streaming company has launched in India with plans starting at Rs 500 ($7.50) per month. It will also offer two other plans priced at Rs. 650 and Rs. 800, it announced on its website.

The basic plan starting at Rs 500 per month offers access only SD content and is limited to a single user. For Rs 650 per month, you can watch HD content on two screens at a time, and Rs 800 per month will get you 4K content on up to four screens simultaneously.

CEO Reed Hastings said during his CES 2016 keynote address on Wednesday, Netflix is now available in “all major countries” of the world “except China”.

“Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global internet TV network. With this launch, consumers around the world — from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo — will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously — no more waiting,” said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

“With the help of the internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device,” he added.

You can signup for Netflix via its website or the Netflix apps and can access it through the app on a smart TV, a video game console, a streaming player, a smartphone. According to Netflix, the minimum required connection speed is 0.5 MB per second but will require a faster connection for improved video quality. A download speed of at least 5.0 Mbps per stream is recommended to receive HD content and a download speed of at least 25.0 Mbps per stream is recommended to receive Ultra HD content.

Netflix says that movies or TV shows will consume up to 1GB of data per hour on SD content, and up to 3GB per hour on HD content.

Netflix will compete in India with the Star’s Hotstar, Hungama, Singapore-based Spuul, Eros Now, and many others. In 2016, the company plans to release new and returning original series, two dozen original feature films, and documentaries, a wide range of stand-up comedy specials.

“Netflix is entering India at the right time,” analyst Tarun Pathak at Counterpoint Technology Research told Reuters.