State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is set to launch its IPTV services in three months. It has started testing the service in Pune. The company has tied up with the Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL), a state government company, for integration of information technology in education and DiviNet, an infrastructure and technology provider. BSNL Chief General Manager Kuldeep Goyal told Business Standard, “The tests are in the final stages and we expect to launch the service in three months. Later, we will extend the service throughout the country.” MTNL has already launched IPTV services in Delhi. It seems state-owned telcos are faster in IPTV roll-out.
Update: Here is a report that quotes BSNL Chairman and Managing Direcctor A K Sinha on its IPTV launch plans. It says BSNL will first launch IPTV services in Chennai and then in Pune. Following these two cities will be Bangalore and Kolkata. He also mentioned that tariff would be less than Rs 500 a month. The state-owned telco will later expand the triple play broadband service to 500 Indian cities.