IPTV was a part of BSNL's ambitious triple play offer, which was supposed to provide internet, television and land line telephone through a single cable line, but the project failed since all the existing cables were found incompatible to transmit data at high speed. Most of the existing cables of Calcutta Telephones are capable of transferring data at the rate of two megabits per second. But to enable all three services simultaneously, the cable needed to transfer six megabits of data per second.

Meanwhile, BSNL has collaborated with India Online Network, a Mumbai-based company for providing the television network. An official of ION said that about 3,500 applicants have not got the IPTV connection and despite cable incompatibility, Calcutta Telephones continues to accept applications for IPTV at its various exchanges.

The vice-president, access, ION, said: "The delay is primarily due to the worn-out technical support system of Calcutta Telephones. The upgradation work is complete and new applicants would be getting the connection within four days. The applicants who had applied for the connection before would get it soon."

Mr SK Chakraborty, Central General Manager of Calcutta Telephones said the upgradation work is already complete and subscribers have been getting easy access to IPTV.