BSNL IPTV & IFTV 2026: Plans, Free Channels, and How to Register

If you’ve searched for “BSNL IPTV” recently, you’ve probably run into two different names: IPTV and IFTV. That’s not a typo repeated across the internet. BSNL genuinely runs two separate TV services now, and mixing them up is the easiest way to end up applying for the wrong one.

Quick answer: BSNL IPTV is the older, paid service (₹130–₹339/month) available only in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Tamil Nadu, run through local partner apps. BSNL IFTV is the newer service, launched from late 2024 onward, that’s completely free (excluding paid channels) for FTTH customers, delivers 500+ channels through one national app (BSNL Live TV), and has expanded to nine circles as of August 2026. If IFTV is available where you live, it’s almost always the better option.

This guide covers both services in full, how to check which one is available in your area, what you’ll actually pay, and the exact registration steps.

BSNL IPTV vs. BSNL IFTV: What’s the Difference?

In short: IPTV is the original, partner-run, pay-per-plan model. IFTV is BSNL’s own centralised, free upgrade, and it’s the one BSNL is actively expanding right now.

Related: Difference Between BSNL IPTV and BSNL IFTV Services

What Is BSNL IPTV?

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) delivers TV channels over an internet connection instead of a traditional cable or satellite signal. BSNL’s IPTV service works over your existing BSNL FTTH connection and is run through local technology and content partners rather than a single national platform.

BSNL rolled out IPTV in phases:

• Kerala – in partnership with M/s Cinesoft (technology) and M/s Bhoomika (content)
• Andhra Pradesh – under the brand name Ulka TV, run by City Online Media Private Limited
• Tamil Nadu – launched in Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, and Tuticorin districts in partnership with E2 Info Solutions, using the BSNL E2IS IPTV app

Because each circle uses a different partner and app, the exact registration steps and available channels can vary slightly depending on where you live.

How to Register for BSNL IPTV

1. Confirm you have an active BSNL FTTH connection. If you don’t, apply for FTTH first. IPTV can’t be activated without it.
2. Visit the BSNL IPTV registration portal.
3. Verify your Bharat Fiber phone number; this is how BSNL links the IPTV service to your existing FTTH account.
4. Provide your mobile number and email ID for confirmation and updates.
5. Submit the form. In most cases, the service is activated within a few hours of your request.
6. Download the relevant app for your circle (E2IS IPTV for Tamil Nadu, or the local partner app for Kerala/AP) from the Google Play Store onto your Android TV or Android TV Box.

You do not need a separate physical set-top box if you already own an Android TV or an Android TV Box. The IPTV app installs and runs just like any other streaming app.

If your current TV isn’t a Smart TV, a basic Android TV Box is the cheapest way to get both BSNL IPTV/IFTV and standard streaming apps working on it. No need to replace the whole television.

Related: Top 5 Streaming Devices to Turn Any TV into a Smart TV

BSNL IPTV Tariff Plans (2026)

A few things worth knowing about pricing:

• The IPTV subscription is billed separately from your FTTH broadband rent. It doesn’t get bundled into your existing internet bill automatically.
• New registrations come with a one-month free trial of the 160+ FTA channel bundle as a launch promotion; check the current registration page, as promotional terms can change.
• No Network Capacity Fee (NCF) is charged on top of these plans.
• Channels available include a mix of English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, sports, and regional options depending on your circle. Kerala’s bundle, for instance, includes Asianet, Surya TV, and Zee Kerala among its FTA channels.

What Is BSNL IFTV? (The Bigger 2026 Update)

This is the part most older guides miss entirely: BSNL launched a second, separate TV service called IFTV ( Intranet Fibre TV ) starting in late 2024, and it’s a meaningfully different product from IPTV.

IFTV runs over BSNL’s own dedicated intranet channel rather than through a third-party partner’s IPTV platform. That distinction matters in practice: it means BSNL controls the entire experience end-to-end through one app, BSNL Live TV, instead of relying on a different partner app in every state.

Here’s what makes IFTV worth checking first if it’s available in your area:

• It’s completely free for FTTH customers as a bundled add-on; no separate monthly plan.
• 500+ live channels in HD and SD, well beyond IPTV’s channel count.
• Zero data usage against your FTTH internet plan, same as IPTV.
• One national app – BSNL Live TV, available on the Google Play Store, instead of a different partner app per circle.
• Support for major OTT apps including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar, and ZEE5 accessible through the same Android TV interface.

IFTV launched first in Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, then expanded through 2025 to Punjab, Haryana, Puducherry, and Gujarat (officially inaugurated for the Gujarat circle in January 2025).

By August 2026, BSNL had extended IFTV to nine telecom circles nationally, with plans to continue rolling it out as FTTH infrastructure expands.

If you’re unsure whether IFTV has reached your circle yet, check with your local BSNL office or the registration portal directly, since coverage is still growing month to month.

Related: BSNL Public WiFi Plans and How Are We Able to Get It?

How to Register for BSNL IFTV

1. Confirm your BSNL FTTH connection is active.
2. Register through the BSNL IPTV/IFTV portal. Both services currently share the same registration entry point, so double-check which service is being activated for your circle.
3. Alternatively, register through the BSNL Selfcare app, available on the Google Play Store, which some circles use for IFTV sign-ups.
4. Download the BSNL Live TV app from the Google Play Store onto an Android TV (version 10 or higher) or an Android TV Box.
5. Sign in using the mobile number registered to your FTTH connection.
6. A technician may configure VLAN/ONT settings remotely to route the IFTV service correctly. This is typically handled on BSNL’s end after you register, and doesn’t require you to do anything technical yourself.

Because IFTV runs on a separate intranet channel rather than standard internet routing, some users report BSNL completing backend configuration (on the ONT/OLT) before the service goes fully live. So don’t be surprised if activation takes a bit longer than an instant app download.

Device Requirements: What You Need for BSNL IPTV or IFTV

• Android TV running Android 10 or later (for IFTV specifically), or any Android TV compatible with the relevant IPTV partner app
• Android TV Box if your existing television isn’t a smart TV. Any budget Android TV Box works, since neither service requires proprietary BSNL hardware
• Active BSNL FTTH connection. This is mandatory for both services; neither works on mobile data or non-BSNL broadband.
• Stable Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection from your FTTH router to the Android TV or box

Note that a traditional cable-style set-top box is not required for either IPTV or IFTV. Both are app-based services that run on Android TV hardware you likely already own or can buy cheaply.

Advantages of BSNL IPTV and IFTV

• No data usage impact. Both services stream over BSNL’s dedicated network capacity, not your FTTH data pack, so you can watch Ultra HD live TV without eating into your regular internet speed or data allowance.
• No extra set-top box needed if you already own an Android TV or box.
• Reliable delivery via MPLS. BSNL’s IPTV infrastructure uses MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), which is designed for consistent, low-latency delivery of live content.
• No Network Capacity Fee on IPTV plans, unlike some private DTH operators.
• IFTV specifically is free, which makes it one of the only genuinely no-cost live TV bundles offered by any major Indian ISP.
• OTT integration on IFTV brings platforms like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar into the same interface as live channels, reducing the number of separate apps you need to juggle.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Registering for IPTV when IFTV is available in your circle. IFTV is free and has far more channels. Always check circle availability for both before registering.
• Assuming your existing FTTH data plan needs to support the extra usage. Neither service counts against your data cap, so upgrading your broadband plan isn’t necessary just for TV.
• Using an Android TV Box with an outdated Android version. IFTV specifically requires Android 10 or higher. Check your box’s OS version before registering to avoid a failed setup.
• Expecting instant activation. IPTV and especially IFTV sometimes require backend network configuration by a technician, so give it a day or two if the app doesn’t show live channels immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll keep updating this page as BSNL rolls IFTV out to more circles and adjusts IPTV pricing. Follow our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates.

Also, please do not hesitate to post your comments and queries in the section below.

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