TRAI sets 5-year time frame for cable TV digitisation

New Delhi, Jul 25 (UNI) The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today set a time frame of five years for digitisation of the cable TV network.

In its recommendations sent to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, TRAI said cable TV operators should upgrade their current analogue network to digital transmission mode so that they were equipped to compete with new distribution platforms like IPTV, HITS etc.

Digitisation would also increase their revenue earning prospects, said TRAI.

It has recommended replacement of the registration for cable TV operator by a comprehensive and supportive licensing framework, and for a separate licensing framework for cable TV operators(LCOs) and Multi-system operators(MSOs).

An entry fee of Rs 10,000 has been recommended for LOCs, and RS 1,000,00 for district and state-level operators.

Similarly an entry fee of Rs 1,000,00, Rs 10,000,00 and Rs 25,00,000 has been recommended for MSOs.

TRAI said that due to technological developments, existing cable operators, whose operations were manily in the analogue system, were likely to face stiff competition from operators employing advance distribution technologies.

The analog mode of cable TV transmission lacks scope for technological improvement, appropriate addressability and efficient resource utilisation, TRAI said.

Disputes relating to actual subscriber base, poor quality of service and inadequate consumer grievance redressal mechanism, non-availability of authenticated data, lack of supervisory guidance and unorganized development of cable TV industry are some of the main problems the sector was facing, it said.

UNI NAZ AM RN2012