Short answer: in India, real IPTV, meaning live TV channels delivered over your broadband line to a set-top box, now mostly comes bundled with home internet. Jio (JioFiber and Jio AirFiber, with the JioTV+ interface) advertises 1,000+ channels from ₹599 a month plus GST, and Airtel Xstream AirFiber bundles 350+ HD channels from ₹699 plus GST. BSNL has started its own fibre TV in some circles. If you don't want a broadband bundle, Tata Play Binge and the individual OTT apps cover on-demand viewing, and DD Free Dish remains the free option for live channels.
At a glance
IPTV in India, October 2026
| Most channels | Jio AirFiber / JioFiber, 1,000+ from ₹599 |
| Most OTT apps | Airtel Xstream AirFiber, 22+ apps from ₹699 |
| Government option | BSNL fibre TV, selected circles |
| No broadband needed | DTH, or DD Free Dish at no monthly cost |
| Watch for | 18% GST on top of listed prices |
What counts as IPTV in India
Three kinds of TV get lumped together under "IPTV", and they work differently.
- Operator IPTV. Live TV channels sent over your broadband provider's own network to a set-top box. Because it runs on a managed network rather than the open internet, it behaves much like cable: channels change quickly and don't buffer at peak times. Jio, Airtel and BSNL's fibre TV are in this group.
- OTT aggregators. One login and one bill that unlock several streaming apps. Tata Play Binge is the best-known. Mostly on demand, not live channels.
- Individual OTT apps. JioHotstar, ZEE5, SonyLIV, Sun NXT and so on, each sold on its own.
Underneath sits traditional TV: DTH (Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, Sun Direct), local cable, and DD Free Dish. Those aren't IPTV, but they're what most operator IPTV plans are competing against on price. For a plain explanation of how the technology works, see what is IPTV.
A quick reality check: IPTV in India had a rough few years. S&P Global estimated that Indian IPTV operators lost 10.7% of their subscribers in 2021 as cheaper OTT apps took over. What revived it is the broadband bundle, where the TV comes almost free with an internet plan you were buying anyway.
The plans compared, in rupees
These are the wireless "AirFiber" bundles, which are easiest to compare because both operators publish them side by side. Prices are per month and exclude GST, as listed in mid-2026.
| Plan | Speed | TV channels | OTT apps | Price + GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jio AirFiber | 30 Mbps | 1,000+ | 12 | ₹599 |
| Jio AirFiber | 100 Mbps | 1,000+ | 12 | ₹899 |
| Jio AirFiber | 100 Mbps | 1,000+ | 16, incl. Netflix Basic, Prime Lite | ₹1,199 |
| Airtel Xstream AirFiber | 40 Mbps | 350+ HD | 22+ | ₹699 |
| Airtel Xstream AirFiber | 100 Mbps | None | None | ₹799 |
| Airtel Xstream AirFiber | 100 Mbps | 350+ HD | 22+ | ₹899 |
Two things jump out. Airtel's ₹799 plan is a trap if you want TV: for ₹100 more, the ₹899 plan adds the channels and apps. And at ₹899 the two operators are level on speed, so the choice comes down to whether you value Jio's longer channel list or Airtel's wider app bundle.
Add 18% GST to every figure. ₹599 becomes about ₹707 a month; ₹899 becomes about ₹1,061.
Wired fibre plans (JioFiber, Airtel Xstream Fiber) follow similar tiers but vary more by city, so check your pin code on each operator's site.
Jio: JioFiber, AirFiber and JioTV+
Jio's TV runs through its set-top box and the JioTV+ interface, which pulls live channels and the bundled OTT apps into one guide. The "1,000+ channels" figure includes a long tail of regional, devotional and music channels, so the number matters less than whether your specific channels are there.
JioFiber is the wired version, for areas with Jio's fibre. Jio AirFiber uses 5G fixed wireless to reach homes without fibre; an outdoor or window unit receives the signal and the set-top box connects to it.
Good to know:
- The ₹1,199 tier is the first to add Netflix Basic, Amazon Prime Lite and YouTube Premium. If you're already paying for those separately, add up what you'd save before dismissing it.
- AirFiber performance depends on 5G coverage at your address. Ask for an installation check before committing to a long prepaid term.
- JioHotstar, the OTT app, is a separate thing from JioTV+. Bundled plans may include a JioHotstar subscription; read the plan sheet.
Airtel Xstream Fiber and AirFiber
Airtel delivers TV through its Xstream box, an Android TV-based set-top box that shows live channels alongside apps. Its pitch is breadth of streaming: the AirFiber plans list 22+ OTT apps against Jio's 12 at the entry tier, while carrying fewer live channels (350+ in HD).
Airtel's advantage for some households is the Android TV base. You get the Google Play Store on the same box, so apps that aren't in the bundle can still be installed and paid for separately.
The weak spot is the plan ladder. As the table shows, the middle AirFiber tier drops TV and apps entirely. Always check that a plan explicitly lists "TV channels" before you assume it includes them.
Airtel also still runs Airtel Digital TV, its DTH service. If your area doesn't have Xstream Fiber or AirFiber, that's the route to Airtel's channel line-up.
BSNL's fibre TV
BSNL, the state-owned operator, began offering live TV over its fibre-to-the-home network in late 2024, starting with a few telecom circles and expanding gradually. BSNL presented it as included for its FTTH customers at no extra charge, with hundreds of channels streamed over its own network rather than the public internet.
Because it's rolling out circle by circle, the only reliable way to know whether you can get it is to ask your local BSNL office or check the BSNL website for your circle. If you're already a BSNL fibre customer, it's worth asking about even if you have DTH, because it may cost you nothing.
We couldn't confirm the current list of circles or the channel count for October 2026, so treat any figure you see online as provisional.
Tata Play Binge and the app route
Not every household wants a broadband bundle. If you already have good internet from a local provider, or you watch mostly shows and films rather than live channels, the app route can be cheaper.
Tata Play Binge is an aggregator: one subscription that unlocks a set of OTT apps on a single login, usable on a Fire TV Stick, smart TV or phone. Plans are tiered by how many apps you get. It has no live TV channels of its own, so it pairs naturally with a DTH connection for live viewing.
Individual apps (JioHotstar, ZEE5, SonyLIV, Sun NXT, Aha and others) are worth it when one network dominates your viewing. Most offer quarterly and yearly plans that cost far less per month than their monthly price.
For live TV without any subscription, DD Free Dish needs only a dish and a free-to-air set-top box, and carries Doordarshan and a selection of private channels.
The trade-offs between all of these and traditional pay TV are laid out in our IPTV vs cable comparison.
Which one fits your home
You need new broadband anyway. Take a bundle. Jio if you want the most channels or need AirFiber's reach; Airtel if your family uses many OTT apps or wants the Play Store on the TV box.
You're a BSNL fibre customer. Ask about fibre TV before paying for anything else.
You have DTH and decent internet. Keep DTH for live channels and add one OTT app or Tata Play Binge. Don't pay for channels twice.
You watch mostly sport. Check which app holds the rights for the season you care about, because rights move. An operator bundle that includes that app is usually cheaper than buying it alone.
Speed. The entry tiers are fine for one TV, but a household running live TV in one room and 4K apps in another will feel a 30 or 40 Mbps plan. Our internet speed guide explains how much each TV actually needs.
One more: catch-up. Operator IPTV usually lets you go back a few days on supported channels, which is handy when a serial clashes with dinner. See how catch-up TV works for why the window differs by channel.
Finally, stick to licensed services. Unofficial "all channels" IPTV subscriptions sold through Telegram and WhatsApp aren't licensed by the broadcasters, and they disappear without refunds.
Quick answers
Which is the best IPTV in India? For most homes, a broadband bundle: Jio for the most channels, Airtel for the most OTT apps. BSNL fibre customers should check BSNL's own TV first.
How much does IPTV cost in India? Bundles start at ₹599 a month plus GST with Jio AirFiber and ₹699 plus GST with Airtel Xstream AirFiber, including the internet connection.
Is JioTV+ free? It's included with JioFiber and Jio AirFiber plans. You pay for the broadband plan, not separately for the TV.
Does Airtel AirFiber include TV channels? On the ₹699 and ₹899 plans, yes, 350+ HD channels. The ₹799 plan doesn't include TV or OTT apps.
Does BSNL offer IPTV? BSNL has rolled out live TV over its fibre network in selected circles since late 2024. Availability depends on your circle.
Is Tata Play Binge IPTV? Not in the live-channel sense. It's an aggregator of on-demand OTT apps on one subscription.
Do these prices include GST? No. Add 18% to the listed monthly prices.
Operator plans in India are revised often, and AirFiber and fibre availability varies by pin code. Plan figures are from published mid-2026 listings before GST; BSNL's coverage couldn't be confirmed for this month. Checked October 2026.