Public Sector communication company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is all geared up to launch Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service in Himachal Pradesh by next month.

According to the sources, Shimla will become one of the first few cities in India to have BSNL's IPTV service. The company is presently giving final touches to its software system for launching. 

The state owned telecom giant will soon announce tariffs for the IPTV services, which will be introduced shortly in 254 centres of the state, which have the facility of broadband. After successful implementation of service, the company also plans to extend it to 400 more locations.

IPTV service will offer traditional broadcast TV with a high standard reception and several add on features like time-shift television, video on demand etc.

In tele-density, Himachal occupies the third place nationally, after Kerala and Punjab, as 47 % of the states’ 65 lakh population owns a telephone connection. The firm has just launched the service commercially in Pune.