The IPTV uses telephone landline to receive digital television signals. “A set top box connected to the television converts them into standard television signals. It also acts like a video recorder by saving soaps, music and matches,” said Kapil Dev Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Smart Digivision — the implementation partner for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Lucknow.

The service will soon offer more interactive features such as booking tickets, email, travel information, online shopping and chatting. After the national inauguration of IPTV at Jaipur in August, the state-owned telecom firm has launched it in 9 cities. By March 2009, it plans to make the service available in 85 other cities. In the next phase, broadband subscribers in Agra and Meerut will be offered the service.

Calling it generations ahead of cable and Direct to Home (DTH) services, Anil Jain, Deputy Director General for Broadband, BSNL, said: “While DTH providers charge Rs 75 for a movie, we charge only Rs 10. For movies that are less than a year old, the cost is Rs 25. We will offer the latest movies, which will be available within two to three days of their release.”

“IPTV heralds a new milestone in taking broadband to the masses. It will help boost the economy. With new services such as IPTV and 3G (third generation mobile), rural areas can access a variety of information,” said Siddhartha Behura, Secretary of Department of Telecom and Chairman of Telecom Commission. To draw DTH customers to the new service, BSNL has offered cut-throat rates for the service.