Category: Regulators

TDSAT asks Sun Distribution to reconnect signals to MSO on fifty per cent payment

NEW DELHI: Sun Distribution Services Pvt Ltd has been asked by vacation bench of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to reconnect the signals to the City Digital Network if it pays fifty per cent of the dues mentioned in the disconnection notice within a week.

Member B B Srivastava said the payment will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties.

Hearing the matter on 22 June 2016, the Tribunal fixed the matter for 18 July with the reply of Sun Distribution.

Meanwhile, both parties will meet at a convenient timein the Hyderabad office of the resoindent to resolve the issue over renewal of interconnect agreement.

June 25, 2016
TRAI gives more time for responses on infrastructure sharing for TV distribution

NEW DELHI: Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India extended to 4 July the deadline for its pre-consultation paper on infrastructure sharing in broadcasting TV distribution sector, it is yet to receive a single response on its paper on ‘Net Neutrality to ensure National Security and Customer Privacy’ despite an extension of date to 5 July.

However, a reproduction of a summary of the pre-consultation paper on Net Neutrality on mygov.in has elicited around 80,000 responses from consumers.

The paper on infrastructure sharing assumes greater importance with the regulator having issued a paper on opening up the Digital Terrestrial Transmission – a domain so far of Doordarshan – to private television channels.

While the pre-consultation on Infrastructure sharing was issued on 23 May and the deadline for responses was 23 June, the paper on Net Neutrality was issued on 30 May seeking conments by 21 June.

In its paper on Infrastructure sharing, the regulator wanted to know from stakeholders what could be the operational, commercial, technical and regulatory issues which require to be addressed at the time of developing policy and regulatory framework for enabling infrastructure sharing in the broadcasting TV distribution space.

TRAI also asked whether stakeholders envisage any requirement for change in the existing licensing/registration framework laid for DTH, DAS and HITS broadcasting services.

The regulator wants to know what more can be shared by the distributor platform operators (MSOs, HITS, DTH) for better utilization of infrastructure.

TRAI said the pre-consultation paper had been issued with an aim to solicit stakeholder’s views on issues related to sharing of infrastructure on voluntary basis and separation of network and service provider functions so as to reduce cost of distribution of services and enhance competition in respect of all type of TV distribution platforms.

With mounting pressure from different quarters for and against net neutrality, TRAI in its paper on Net Neutrality wants to know what India’s policy should be and/or regulatory approach in dealing with issues relating to net neutrality

India is one of the fastest growing information and communication technologies markets in the world, fuelled largely by the cellular mobile revolution. Starting from a few million connections in 1997, there are more than a billion connections, with 97.5% of them being wireless subscribers. With this, the overall teledensity in India at the end of 2015 stood at 81.83%.

India has also witnessed tremendous growth in terms of the total number of Internet users. At the end of December 2015, there were over 331 million Internet subscribers in the country, of which about 94% (over 311 million) were wireless Internet users.

The current nature of telecommunications and internet access services in India is therefore largely wireless. The number of broadband users has also been increasing steadily over the years. At present, India has approximately 136.5 million broadband subscribers, a figure that is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, particularly in light of the Government’s ‘Digital India’ initiative.

This initiative emphasizes the electronic delivery of services to all citizens as an urgent national priority, with ‘Broadband for All’ as one of its fundamental pillars. Providing broadband to all will require a significant expansion of service providers’ networks, with substantial investments in infrastructure development.

June 25, 2016
TRAI gives more time for responses on infrastructure sharing for TV distribution

NEW DELHI: Even as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India extended to 4 July the deadline for its pre-consultation paper on infrastructure sharing in broadcasting TV distribution sector, it is yet to receive a single response on its paper on ‘Net Neutrality to ensure National Security and Customer Privacy’ despite an extension of date to 5 July.

However, a reproduction of a summary of the pre-consultation paper on Net Neutrality on mygov.in has elicited around 80,000 responses from consumers.

The paper on infrastructure sharing assumes greater importance with the regulator having issued a paper on opening up the Digital Terrestrial Transmission – a domain so far of Doordarshan – to private television channels.

While the pre-consultation on Infrastructure sharing was issued on 23 May and the deadline for responses was 23 June, the paper on Net Neutrality was issued on 30 May seeking conments by 21 June.

In its paper on Infrastructure sharing, the regulator wanted to know from stakeholders what could be the operational, commercial, technical and regulatory issues which require to be addressed at the time of developing policy and regulatory framework for enabling infrastructure sharing in the broadcasting TV distribution space.

TRAI also asked whether stakeholders envisage any requirement for change in the existing licensing/registration framework laid for DTH, DAS and HITS broadcasting services.

The regulator wants to know what more can be shared by the distributor platform operators (MSOs, HITS, DTH) for better utilization of infrastructure.

TRAI said the pre-consultation paper had been issued with an aim to solicit stakeholder’s views on issues related to sharing of infrastructure on voluntary basis and separation of network and service provider functions so as to reduce cost of distribution of services and enhance competition in respect of all type of TV distribution platforms.

With mounting pressure from different quarters for and against net neutrality, TRAI in its paper on Net Neutrality wants to know what India’s policy should be and/or regulatory approach in dealing with issues relating to net neutrality

India is one of the fastest growing information and communication technologies markets in the world, fuelled largely by the cellular mobile revolution. Starting from a few million connections in 1997, there are more than a billion connections, with 97.5% of them being wireless subscribers. With this, the overall teledensity in India at the end of 2015 stood at 81.83%.

India has also witnessed tremendous growth in terms of the total number of Internet users. At the end of December 2015, there were over 331 million Internet subscribers in the country, of which about 94% (over 311 million) were wireless Internet users.

The current nature of telecommunications and internet access services in India is therefore largely wireless. The number of broadband users has also been increasing steadily over the years. At present, India has approximately 136.5 million broadband subscribers, a figure that is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, particularly in light of the Government’s ‘Digital India’ initiative.

This initiative emphasizes the electronic delivery of services to all citizens as an urgent national priority, with ‘Broadband for All’ as one of its fundamental pillars. Providing broadband to all will require a significant expansion of service providers’ networks, with substantial investments in infrastructure development.

June 25, 2016
TDSAT directs Star India to restore signals to MSO on payment of first of two Installments

NEW DELHI: City Digital Network has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal tp pay a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh in two installments to Star India by the end of this month.

Member B B Srivastava said the signals to the MSO will be restored on payment of the first installment of Rs one lakh by 24 June 2016.

In his order of 22 June 2016, he said that the second instalment installment of Rs 2.5 lakh will be cleared a week thereafter.

He also directed the parties to meet at a mutually convenient date to resolve differences and work on a new interconnect agreement.

Listing the matter for 18 July, he said the matter of transmission of digital signals would be taken up then.

June 25, 2016
TDSAT directs Star India to restore signals to MSO on payment of first of two Installments

NEW DELHI: City Digital Network has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal tp pay a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh in two installments to Star India by the end of this month.

Member B B Srivastava said the signals to the MSO will be restored on payment of the first installment of Rs one lakh by 24 June 2016.

In his order of 22 June 2016, he said that the second instalment installment of Rs 2.5 lakh will be cleared a week thereafter.

He also directed the parties to meet at a mutually convenient date to resolve differences and work on a new interconnect agreement.

Listing the matter for 18 July, he said the matter of transmission of digital signals would be taken up then.

June 25, 2016
TRAI issues paper on mobile TV, opening up DTT to pvt players; lists advantages over analog transmission

NEW DELHI: Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT), which has until now remained a monopoly of the public broadcaster Doordarshan, is set for being opened up to private players in an effort to reach the largest audiences in the country.

Similarly, the mobile TV, hanging fire for some years now in an on-off mode with policy-makers and regulators, too could become a reality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued a consultation paper on DTT and mobile TV, asking stakeholders to respond by 22 July, 2016 with counter-comments by 5 August, 2016.

Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that the government was in the final stages of this exercise. Later, the website had also quoted Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer Jawhar Sircar as saying that the pubcaster was not afraid of possible entry of private players.

DD, which presently has exclusive domain over terrestrial broadcasting, is ranked amongst the world’s largest terrestrial television networks. It has a network of 1,412 analog transmitters that provide TV services through two national channels namely, DD National and DD News.

In addition to this, the DD network also broadcast several regional TV channels over the terrestrial network in a time sharing mode to meet the local and regional needs of people in different parts of the country. All TV channels provided by DD are free-to-air.

India’s regulator, in its latest consultation paper, has sought feedback from stakeholders regarding DTT and mobile TV primarily on the following issues:

Q.1 Do you perceive the need for introduction of DTT in presence of multiple broadcasting distribution platforms?

Q.2 If yes, what should be the appropriate strategy for DTT implementation across the country?

Q.3 Should DTT be opened for participation by the private players?

Q.4 What should be the approach for implementing DTT network (MFN/SFN/Hybrid)?

Q.5 What should be the criteria for arriving at optimum size of DTT multiplex at any location?

Q.6 How many digital multiplex per DTT operator should be planned for metro, major cities, urban and rural areas and why?

Q.7 What should be most appropriate frequency band as per National Frequency Allocation Plan 2011 for implementation of Digital 32 terrestrial transmission including mobile TV?

Q.8 Should spectrum be exclusively earmarked for roll out of DTT services? If so, what should be the quantum considering the broadcasting sector requirement in totality?

Q.9 What should be the roadmap for digitization of terrestrial TV network in the country?

Q.10 What should be the analog switch off date(s) for the terrestrial TV channels in context with the suggested roadmap for DTT implementation?

DTT for broadcasting TV programme services was first introduced in the UK in 1998 by deploying the first generation DVB-T standard developed by the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) group.

Since then, TRAI says, many new standards have evolved and at this juncture implementation of the second generation standards are underway. The DTT broadcasting spectrum has been harmonized with earlier analog spectrum allocation and therefore DTT makes use of similar analog channel allocations.

Latest DTT technologies provide a number of advantages over analog terrestrial broadcasting technology. The main amongst them are the following:

— Better quality TV reception

— Efficient use of frequency (one DTT transmitter can broadcast multiple TV channels)

—Possible frequency reuse

— TV channels can also be received on mobile phones and handheld devices

— The 7 or 8 MHz TV frequency band can accommodate 10-12 Standard Definition (SD) TV channels or it can be employed as a data pipe to deliver different type of services including radio services.

— A DTT platform is flexible and content format agnostic as newer formats of TV channels such as HD TV, 3D TV, UHD TV, data and radio services, etc. can be delivered with reduced transmission power requirements.

—Subsequent digitization also allows for government bodies to reclaim spectrum and repurpose it.

Analog terrestrial broadcasting has several limitations including transmission being susceptible to Radio Frequency (RF) interference resulting in poorer reception quality; spectrally inefficient as more spectrums per TV channel is required and frequency reuse is limited, apart from other drawbacks.

Quoting a recent global research report that studied DTT in 138 countries, including India, TRAI says in its paper the global digital TV penetration at the end of 2015 stands at 74.6 percent with 1170 million digital TV households in the world. There are 261.9 million analog terrestrial TV and 252 million DTT TV households. DTT households comprise 239.4 million FTA DTT and 12.6 million pay DTT households globally. Between 2010 and 2015, about 584 million digital TV homes were added, out of which 156 million came primarily from DTT, TRAI stated quoting the report.

While admitting that many other countries have laid down clear roadmaps to switch-off analog terrestrial TV transmission with a transition to DTT, TRAI points out in India a clear roadmap is unavailable, though work for changeover from analog to digital terrestrial transmission by DD has already commenced.

The full consultation paper of TRAI on this issue could be accessed at http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReaddata/ConsultationPaper/Document/Consultation_Paper_24_june_2016.pdf.

June 24, 2016
TRAI issues paper on mobile TV, opening up DTT to pvt players; lists advantages over analog transmission

NEW DELHI: Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT), which has until now remained a monopoly of the public broadcaster Doordarshan, is set for being opened up to private players in an effort to reach the largest audiences in the country.

Similarly, the mobile TV, hanging fire for some years now in an on-off mode with policy-makers and regulators, too could become a reality.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today issued a consultation paper on DTT and mobile TV, asking stakeholders to respond by 22 July, 2016 with counter-comments by 5 August, 2016.

Indiantelevision.com had earlier reported that the government was in the final stages of this exercise. Later, the website had also quoted Prasar Bharati Chief Executive Officer Jawhar Sircar as saying that the pubcaster was not afraid of possible entry of private players.

DD, which presently has exclusive domain over terrestrial broadcasting, is ranked amongst the world’s largest terrestrial television networks. It has a network of 1,412 analog transmitters that provide TV services through two national channels namely, DD National and DD News.

In addition to this, the DD network also broadcast several regional TV channels over the terrestrial network in a time sharing mode to meet the local and regional needs of people in different parts of the country. All TV channels provided by DD are free-to-air.

India’s regulator, in its latest consultation paper, has sought feedback from stakeholders regarding DTT and mobile TV primarily on the following issues:

Q.1 Do you perceive the need for introduction of DTT in presence of multiple broadcasting distribution platforms?

Q.2 If yes, what should be the appropriate strategy for DTT implementation across the country?

Q.3 Should DTT be opened for participation by the private players?

Q.4 What should be the approach for implementing DTT network (MFN/SFN/Hybrid)?

Q.5 What should be the criteria for arriving at optimum size of DTT multiplex at any location?

Q.6 How many digital multiplex per DTT operator should be planned for metro, major cities, urban and rural areas and why?

Q.7 What should be most appropriate frequency band as per National Frequency Allocation Plan 2011 for implementation of Digital 32 terrestrial transmission including mobile TV?

Q.8 Should spectrum be exclusively earmarked for roll out of DTT services? If so, what should be the quantum considering the broadcasting sector requirement in totality?

Q.9 What should be the roadmap for digitization of terrestrial TV network in the country?

Q.10 What should be the analog switch off date(s) for the terrestrial TV channels in context with the suggested roadmap for DTT implementation?

DTT for broadcasting TV programme services was first introduced in the UK in 1998 by deploying the first generation DVB-T standard developed by the European Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) group.

Since then, TRAI says, many new standards have evolved and at this juncture implementation of the second generation standards are underway. The DTT broadcasting spectrum has been harmonized with earlier analog spectrum allocation and therefore DTT makes use of similar analog channel allocations.

Latest DTT technologies provide a number of advantages over analog terrestrial broadcasting technology. The main amongst them are the following:

— Better quality TV reception

— Efficient use of frequency (one DTT transmitter can broadcast multiple TV channels)

—Possible frequency reuse

— TV channels can also be received on mobile phones and handheld devices

— The 7 or 8 MHz TV frequency band can accommodate 10-12 Standard Definition (SD) TV channels or it can be employed as a data pipe to deliver different type of services including radio services.

— A DTT platform is flexible and content format agnostic as newer formats of TV channels such as HD TV, 3D TV, UHD TV, data and radio services, etc. can be delivered with reduced transmission power requirements.

—Subsequent digitization also allows for government bodies to reclaim spectrum and repurpose it.

Analog terrestrial broadcasting has several limitations including transmission being susceptible to Radio Frequency (RF) interference resulting in poorer reception quality; spectrally inefficient as more spectrums per TV channel is required and frequency reuse is limited, apart from other drawbacks.

Quoting a recent global research report that studied DTT in 138 countries, including India, TRAI says in its paper the global digital TV penetration at the end of 2015 stands at 74.6 percent with 1170 million digital TV households in the world. There are 261.9 million analog terrestrial TV and 252 million DTT TV households. DTT households comprise 239.4 million FTA DTT and 12.6 million pay DTT households globally. Between 2010 and 2015, about 584 million digital TV homes were added, out of which 156 million came primarily from DTT, TRAI stated quoting the report.

While admitting that many other countries have laid down clear roadmaps to switch-off analog terrestrial TV transmission with a transition to DTT, TRAI points out in India a clear roadmap is unavailable, though work for changeover from analog to digital terrestrial transmission by DD has already commenced.

The full consultation paper of TRAI on this issue could be accessed at http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReaddata/ConsultationPaper/Document/Consultation_Paper_24_june_2016.pdf.

June 24, 2016
TDSAT directs MSO to pay Rs 2.45 crore as interim payment to Taj TV, sign agreement

NEW DELHI: Grant lnvestrade Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to make an on-account payment of Rs 2.45 crore in two equal installments to Taj Television and execute an interconnect agreement on RIO terms effective from 21 June 2016.

Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava said the payments in two equal installments will be first within four weeks of 14 June 2016 and the second .within six weeks from the date of the first payment.

The interim payments and those under the RIO agreement will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions ofthe parties.

Taj Television told the Tribunal that its dues in terms of the last interconnect agreement comes to Rs 2.15 crores as on30 April 2016. Adding to it the subscript1on up to 20 June 2016 @ of Rs 92 lakhs per month the dues according toMr. Bhatia, would come to Rs four crore.

(Justice Aftab Alam has since completed his term at Chairperson of the Tribunal.)

June 23, 2016
TDSAT directs MSO to pay Rs 2.45 crore as interim payment to Taj TV, sign agreement

NEW DELHI: Grant lnvestrade Ltd has been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to make an on-account payment of Rs 2.45 crore in two equal installments to Taj Television and execute an interconnect agreement on RIO terms effective from 21 June 2016.

Chairman Justice Aftab Alam and member B B Srivastava said the payments in two equal installments will be first within four weeks of 14 June 2016 and the second .within six weeks from the date of the first payment.

The interim payments and those under the RIO agreement will be without prejudice to the rights and contentions ofthe parties.

Taj Television told the Tribunal that its dues in terms of the last interconnect agreement comes to Rs 2.15 crores as on30 April 2016. Adding to it the subscript1on up to 20 June 2016 @ of Rs 92 lakhs per month the dues according toMr. Bhatia, would come to Rs four crore.

(Justice Aftab Alam has since completed his term at Chairperson of the Tribunal.)

June 23, 2016
TRAI urged to ensure signals to LCOs not disrupted following withdraw its hike-linked tariffs

NEW DELHI: Following the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to withdraw its hike-based tariff orders of 27.5 per cent, the reguator has been urged to issue orders asking multisystem operators not to disconnect the signals received by last mile networks (LCO) during this crucial period of observing the tariff and arrears adjustment period (TAAP).

The regulator has also been urged to ask MSOs to to make any package alterations, activations or deactivations in set top boxes for the smooth adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by LCOs from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

In a detailed letter to TAI Chairman R S Sharma, both National Cable and Telecommunication Association and Cable Operators Federation of India has said that a similar direction may be given to the Pay TV Broadcasters and they be directed to bring back the tariff as existing on 31 March 2014.

In the pre-paid MSO business model, adequate credit should be maintained by the MSO in the system during this period of our observing TAAP, for the adjustment of the increase / hike made payable by us from 1 April 2014 till 30 June 2016.

The two organizations have also said that in case of any discrepancy or for reconciliation of accounts by the MSO, if needed, Rendition of the “Separate Accounts “kept be made in order to ascertain the discrepancy and reconciliation of the accounts.
The letter by NCTA President Vikki Choudhry and COFI President Roop Sharma have pointed out that the regulator had itself withdrawn its tariff-linked tariff orders in the light of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal setting aside the two orders which had allowed for one installment of 15% from 1 April 2014 and the second hike of 12.5% allowed both at the retail and wholesale levels from 1 January 2015.

In view of the TDSAT order and subsequent withdrawal of the orders, there is an immediate need to adjust the increased payments if made by the subscribers to the LCOs, LCOs to the MSOs and MSOs to the broadcasters.

“This TAAP observed to adjust our rightful and legitimate arrears due, upon the MSO, should not be construed as a default in payment or non-payment of agreed / negotiated / invoiced payments due, under an interconnection agreement entered with the MSO in any manner whatsoever or otherwise. Statutory payment obligations towards applicable Entertainment Tax and Service Tax will continue to be fulfilled as is, during this period of observing TAAP by the stakeholders”, the letter said.

The last mile LCOs will also enclose a copy of the last paid invoice / bank statement of the payments made / released to the respective MSO in order to also certify that there are no outstanding dues payable on them as on date.

June 23, 2016