TRAI releases blueprint for IPTV regime for comment

New Delhi, Sept 6 (UNI) Putting out for comments its blue print for an IPTV regime, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) today said in its view there should be no bar on Broadcasters/content providers to give their content to IPTV service providers also.

It said both telecom service providers having licences to provide triple play services under Telegraph Act and cable TV operators registered under Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 could provide IPTV service without requiring any further licence or registration.

The telecom regulator came out with these observation after considering various tricky issues related to provision of IPTV, and invited the stakeholders' comments on it.

IPTV is provision of television signals using Internet Protocol to the subscribers, an issue that has been engaging attention of TRAI for some time due to lack of clarity on who can provide IPTV services.

TRAI proposed draft modification in existing Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995 and sought opinion of stakeholders on in June last year.

After deliberations with stakeholders, the Authority felt that in-depth analysis was required to address the issues related to provision of IPTV services. Some of these are: Technological requirement of IPTV services to deliver content through a Set Top Box (STB) may lead to non-compliance of Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 in reference to delivery of Free-To-Air channels without needing an addressable system.

Use of different devices by difference service providers and lack of standardization for IPTV set top box may violate the Cable Television Networks (Regulations) Act, 1995 in reference to use of equipment conforming to Indian Standards.

Applicability of FDI norms, downlinking guidelines and programme codes on Unified Access Services licensees licenced under Telegraph Act providing IPTV services.

TRAI said it was aware that 'convergence' was the driver in the triad-technology market and policy. In span of about 12 years, radical advances in technology, market institutions, forward looking Government policies and regulatory policy backed with sinews of competition have transformed the telecommunication sector.

It underscored the need for any forward looking analysis in the context of ongoing convergence being technology neutral, given the type of dynamic changes that may result from future delivery of services based on different technologies.

According to the IPTV regime proposed by TRAI, the content will be regulated under Up-linking/Down-linking guidelines issued by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Any breach of the provisions of Act/ License/ Registration/ Permission by telecom service provider/ cable operator/ Broadcaster shall be dealt with by designated agencies, which are responsible for administering such Acts/License/ Registration/Permission.

UNI