TRAI creates sub group for CAS implementation

New Delhi, Feb 6: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has constituted a sub group to discuss issues relating to digitalisation of cable television and voluntary introduction of conditional access system (CAS) in parts of the country where it has not been implemented yet.

The process of digitalisation received a boost with the successful implementation of CAS from December 31, 2006 in parts of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. It is already effective in Chennai since the year 2003.

To reach a feasible road map on the issue, TRAI had conducted a roundtable meeting with various stakeholders on February 1 here.

Various experts and representatives of consumer organisations, multi system operators (MSOs), cable operators, DTH operators, broadcasters and equipment manufacturers participated in the roundtable.

Although a broad consensus emerged among the members on the need for digitalisation and addressability, there were issues like fiscal rationalisation, encouragement of domestic manufacturing, changes in the regulatory regime specially the need for price control, ensuring affordability and choice and exploring alternative models for voluntary CAS, that remained unresolved, the regulator said in a statement.

The discussion will continue in future also, the statement added.

UNI