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Tag: DAS

  • Post-DAS, tardy MSO registrations in six months, 14 new additions

    Post-DAS, tardy MSO registrations in six months, 14 new additions

    NEW DELHI: Despite the fact that it is more than six months since the country adopted digital addressable system (DAS) for cable television, the number of multi-system operators (MSOs) has risen by meagre 14 over the last two months to reach 1469 as on 30 September 2017.

    This total reflects poorly against figures given by the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) before the DAS Task Force that there are 6,000 MSOs in India.

    The total at the end of July was 1455. In the latest list put on its website on Tuesday, the ministry has noted the cancellation of Live Satellite in Maharashtra. Early this year, the government had said all provisional multi-system operators will be deemed as having regular licence. 

    Unlike last time, there is no separate list of MSOs who have gone to court like Godfather Communication Pvt Ltd of Punjab judgment in the case of which was expected at September-end or of the Tamil Nadu Arasu TV Corporation which has been given time till this week to prove it has switched off analogue signals. The MSO had claimed to have gone digital on 1 September.

    MIB officials had earlier this year told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear that the provisional licence was subject to the Centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that no government owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels.  TRAI had in 2008, 2012 and 2014 held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    There is a no list of cancelled MSOs or those whose cases have been closed. The figures revealed on 3 August until July-end had given a list of 63 MSOs whose licences were cancelled or cases closed.

    Faced with just less than one month to go before total switch-off of analogue signals, the Government had on 6 March 2017 decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with condition that the period of ten years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the State then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the MIB specified. All other terms and conditions depicted in the provisional registration letters will continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it had been decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas granted by MIB.

    However, they have to submit the details of headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to MIB, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the Ministry within six months. The ministry list also contains full details of ownership and date of permission including contact details of the MSOs.

    Also read :

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

    37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    Godfather, Kal, Digi Cable & Intermedia licence cancellation stayed, 50 ‘pan-India’ MSOs’ op area changed

     

  • MIB asks Arasu: Give proof of analogue switch-off

    MIB asks Arasu: Give proof of analogue switch-off

    NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV), which had early this month claimed to have gone digital, has been asked to “confirm that you have already switched off analogue signals and are carrying only digital encrypted signals on your cable TV network.”

    In a letter to TACTV despatched late in the evening yesterday, the state-owned multi-system operator (Arasu) was told to reply within 10 days of issuance of the letter, “failing which your registration is likely to be suspended/revoked.”

    Copies of the letter have been sent to the police commissioner in Chennai, the secretary in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), and the principal secretary in the Tamil Nadu IT Department.

    The letter sent by the under-secretary Anil Kumar in the Digital Addressable Service (DAS) section in the ministry of information and broadcasting said, “Since the date for TACTV to switch over to digital cable service in the state of Tamil Nadu is already over, you are directed to confirm that you have already switched off analogue signals.”

    By the letter of 17 April 2017, the current letter noted, the ministry had granted provisional MSO registration to TACTV to provide cable TV network services with digital addressable system in Tamil Nadu with the condition that it will switch over to digital TV within three months, failing which its registration is likely to be suspended/revoked.

    Thereafter, following a request received from the Tamil Nadu state government seeking a three-month extension, one month extension up to 17 August 2017 was granted.

    TACTV had, on 1 September, announced the launch of its digital operations with the inauguration of upgraded MPEG 4 control room and distribution of free set top boxes to subscribers.

    Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched DAS at Nungambakkam in Chennai. Minister for information technology M Manikandan and the chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan were also present.

    The distribution of free STBs was a promise made in the last AIADMK party manifesto by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Around seven million Arasu subscribers reportedly got access to 180 channels in digital quality at a monthly subscription of Rs 125.

    The STBs were to be distributed to users through local cable operators who could charge a one-time activation fee of Rs 200. The distribution of free STBs was scheduled to be completed in three months, an official release had stated.

    Meanwhile, the government was yet to take a final decision on repeated reports by TRAI that states, political parties, and religious groups should not be permitted in broadcasting or distribution sectors.

    ALSO READ :

    Arasu gets a month’s extension to go digital

    Arasu to formally launch DAS in Chennai on Sept. 1

    Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

     

  • Cable operators who worked with Arasu, Sumangali ‘blocking’ new digital players, plaint lodged

    Cable operators who worked with Arasu, Sumangali ‘blocking’ new digital players, plaint lodged

    MUMBAI: A district collector in Tamil Nadu has reportedly received a complaint against a cable operators’ group that had worked with Arasu Cable for not allowing new digital operators to enter the market.

    The plaint has been lodged against the group of about 20 operators which had earlier worked with (then) analogue cable operators such as Arasu Cable and Sumangali Cable Vision (SCV), the Times of India reported.

    The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV)’s digital operations  (DAS) were launched on 1 September with the inauguration of upgraded MPEG 4 control room. The Centre had in April this year given a provisional MSO licence to Arasu on the condition that it adopts DAS within three months. TACTV had sought extension, but the Centre had only agreed to one month — till 17 August.

    Around a fortnight ago, a Tamil Nadu federation of unions had alleged that the Arasu MSO had been following  ‘monopolistic practices’. TACTV had set the subscription fee as Rs 70, which was below the fee recommended by TRAO. Of this, cable operators were expected to pay 50 per cent to Arasu, the federation alleged.  

    Now, on Monday, the petition submitted before the Coimbatore district collector TN Hariharan by a local digital cable television operator said the group of 20 has taken over around 85,000 connections in the district and put pressure on BSNL not to allot fibre-optic cables to new digital players.

    Cable Television Network (CTN), a Coonoor-based digital cable television operator, which claims to have around 500 connections, alleged that the ‘cable mafia’ had misled the BSNL by lodging false complaints against the new entrants.

    ALSO READ :

    Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

    Arasu ‘monopolistic practices’ decried by LCOs, TN body seeks GST exemption

    Punjab govt. studying Arasu & other regulatory models on distribution

     

  • Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

    Delayed Arasu DAS starts, 7 mn subs to get 180 channels in Rs 125

    NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation (TACTV)’s digital operations  (DAS) were launched on 1 September with the inauguration of upgraded MPEG 4 control room and distribution of free set-top boxes. Around seven million Arasu subscribers will now have access to 180 channels in digital quality at a monthly subscription of Rs 125. The STBs will be distributed among users through local cable operators who can charge a one-time activation fee of Rs 200. The distribution of free STBs will be completed in three months, an official release said.

    Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami formally launched the digital addressable system (DAS) at Nungambakkam in Chennai. Minister for information technology M Manikandan and chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan were also present.

    The distribution of free STBs was a promise made in the last AIADMK party manifesto by the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

    The Centre had in April this year given a provisional MSO licence to Arasu on the condition that it had adopts DAS within three months.

    Taking the ground that it had failed to get an adequate number of digital set-top boxes, TACTV had sought extension for three months beyond mid-July, but the Centre had only agreed to one month — till 17 August. Consequently, TACTV has been asked to complete the digitisation process by 17 August 2017 failing which the provisional the “registration may be suspended/revoked.”

    Its present application seeking a further extension is still pending with the information and broadcasting ministry.

    Four monthly packages have been offered to subscribers, including paid and free-to air channels: 180 channels for Rs 125, 230 channels for Rs 175, 260 for Rs 225, and 300 for Rs 275. The subscription fee is exclusive of 18 per cent GST.

    According to government advertisements in the local media, STBs come with a three-year warranty and TACTV is the only state-owned undertaking in India to offer STBs at no cost. TACTV is aiming at six million standard definition (SD) STBs and one million high definition (HD) STBs.

    “The proposed TV services (300 channels to start and to be expanded to 500) will be in MPEG 4 Standard definition and 30 Television services in HD (MPEG4) and 20 FM Audio services with provision to add more SD & HD Channels in the near future,” according to the tender document issued in May this year when seeking STBs.

    It also said the system will ultimately aim to broadcast 500 TV channels, including 50 HD channels and 20 FM audio Channels. The initial subscriber base is expected to be over 7 million.

    Meanwhile, the central government is still to take a final decision on repeated recommendations by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that states the political parties, and religious groups should not be permitted in broadcasting or distribution sectors.

    ALSO READ :

    Arasu gets a month’s extension to go digital

    Arasu to formally launch DAS in Chennai on Sept. 1

  • Arasu to formally launch DAS in Chennai on Sept. 1

    Arasu to formally launch DAS in Chennai on Sept. 1

    NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation, which is still to get a permanent digital licence necessary for an MSO, is formally launching its digital system on 1 September 2017. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is expected to grace the occasion.

    Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had in April this year given a provisional MSO licence to Arasu on the condition that it adopts DAS within three months, a condition that has been extended from time to time.

    Taking the ground that it had failed to get an adequate number of digital set top boxes, TACTV or Arasu had sought extension for three months beyond mid-July, but the centre had only agreed to one month till 17 August 2017. Consequently, TACTV has been asked to complete the digitisation process by 17 August failing which the provisional the “registration may be suspended/revoked.”

    A TACTV official, who did not want to be named, had then told indiantelevision.com that the state government-controlled MSO already put up most of the digital head-ends and would be ready to transmit signals by mid-August.

    According to an Arasu official, the real problem lay in the availability and seeding of seven million digital set top boxes, which may take more time. It had floated tenders in this connection to get India-made STBs, the official had said.

    Arasu is aiming at six million standard definition (SD) set-top boxes and one million high definition (HD) set top boxes.

    The proposed TV services (300 channels to start with that would be expanded to 500) will be in MPEG 4 standard definition. About 30 TV channels would be beamed in HD, while there would be also provision for 20 FM audio services.

    Though the regional party in Tamil Nadu AIADMK, which regained hold over Tamil Nadu few years back, had promised to give free STBs to subscribers as part of its election campaign, Arasu sources said a final call on that will be taken by the chief minister.

    AIADMK, a political ally of the ruling BJP-led coalition in New Delhi, is presently in turmoil and witnessing intra-party churning.

    Few days back, local cable operators had held a protest rally against Arasu alleging that it was being handed favourable treatment by MIB and that distribution of free STBs would upset the business model other players in the state.

    Meanwhile, the government is still to take a final decision on repeated reports by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that states, political parties, and religious groups should not be permitted in broadcasting or distribution sectors.

    ALSO READ:

    Arasu gets a month’s extension to go digital

    Arasu seeks more time to go digital as it waits for STBs

    Arasu ‘monopolistic practices’ decried by LCOs, TN body seeks GST exemption

    Godfather, Kal, Digi Cable & Intermedia licence cancellation stayed, 50 ‘pan-India’ MSOs’ op area changed

  • MIB seeks all new MSO applications online

    MIB seeks all new MSO applications online

    NEW DELHI: Multi-system operators seeking registration for distribution of digital addressable signals to cable television networks can only do so online from 1 September 2017.

    In a directive, the information and broadcasting ministry has said that MSOs can apply on broadcastseva.gov.in and digitalindiamib.com. The directive says it had earlier on 1 May this year given the facility to apply both online and offline (physical submission) but had decided to stop taking offline applications.

    It noted that a number of applications had in fact been received online since then. The procedure for submission of applications online is available on these two websites.

    The total number of registered MSOs as on 31 July was 1455. Early this year, the government had said all provisional multi-system operators will be deemed as having regular licence.

    Faced with just less than one month to go before total switch-off of analogue signals, the government had on 6 March 2017 decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with condition that the period of 10 years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the State then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the Ministry website specified. All other terms and conditions depicted in the provisional registration letters will continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it had been decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas granted by this Ministry.

    However, they have to submit the details of Headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to the Ministry, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the Ministry within six months.

    ALSO READ :

    Godfather, Kal, Digi Cable & Intermedia licence cancellation stayed, 50 ‘pan-India’ MSOs’ op area changed

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

     

  • Restructuring brings Hathway to black in first quarter

    BENGALURU: Restructuring at Indian multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited (Hathway) has brought for it a positive bottomline. The pared company reported a profit of Rs 27.16 million (including an exceptional item –gain from the sale of shares of Rs 17.13 million) or 21 per cent of total income for the quarter ended 30 June 2017 (Q1-18, current quarter).  Even if one were to neglect the exceptional income during the quarter, profit of Rs 101.3 million works out to about eight per cent of total income. The numbers above basically represent the numbers that Hathway has reported from its broadband business.

    The Hathway group structure can be divided into three – Broadband business, CATV business which includes joint ventures, associates and subsidiaries and GTPL Hathway in which it has 37 per cent shareholding. The broadband business is managed by the parent company while the CATV business is managed by wholly owned subsidiary Hathway Digital Private Limited (HDPL).

    Hathway has reported higher y-o-y average revenue per broadband user (ARPU) at Rs 730 as compared to Rs 724 in Q1-17, but lower than the Rs 740 reported for the immediate trailing quarter (Q4-17). The company says that it has added 30,000 broadband subscribers in Q1-17, bringing its broadband subscriber base to 0.66 million.

    For its CATV business, the company says that it has seeded about 0.25 million set top boxes (STB) in Q1-18, bringing its digital CATV subscriber base to 7.2 million, or approximately 96 per cent of its overall subscriber base. It says that it has seeded 1.6 million, 2.3 million and 3.3 million in DAS phases I, II and III & IV respectively. ARPUs’ in Q1-18 were Rs 105, Rs 95 and Rs 55 for DAS phases I, II and III, respectively.

    Broadband business

    Hathway has reported standalone total income of Rs 1,295.7 million for Q1-18 (from its broadband business). Total expenditure in Q1-18 was Rs 1,195.4 million or 92.3 per cent of total income. Employee benefits expense for the quarter was Rs 89 million (6.9 per cent of total income), other operating expenses was Rs 307.9 million (23.8 per cent of total income) and other expenses was Rs 401.7 million (31 per cent of total income). EBIDTA for broadband business was Rs 497.1 million (38.4 per cent of total income).

    CATV business excluding GTPL Hathway business

    For HDPL, Hathway has mentioned total income of Rs 2,365 million for Q1-18 in investor presentation. The breakup of total income is Rs 1,325 million from cable TV subscription, Rs 702 million from placement, Rs 242 million from activation and other operating income of Rs 96 million. Total expenditure in Q1-18 has been reported at Rs 2,093 million (88.5 per cent of DHPL total revenue). Major expense heads include pay channel cost (57.2 percent of HDPL total revenue), employee cost Rs 214 million (9 per cent of HDPL total revenue), other expense Rs 527 million (22.3 per cent of HDPL total revenue). Finance costs for Q1-18 for HDPL was Rs 162 million (6.8 per cent of HDPL total revenue). The company has reported HDPL EBIDTA of Rs 272 million (11.5 per cent of HDPL total revenue).

  • 37 new MSOs in 45 days takes total to 1421, seven among 59 cases sub-judice

    NEW DELHI: In an attempt to give a spurt to digitisation, as many as 37 multi-system operators were registered during May and the first fortnight of June to take the total number to 1421.

    Following the decision of the government to deem all provisional multi-system operators as having regular licence and giving a provisional licence to the Tamil Nadu Arasu TV Corporation, there is a composite list instead of separate lists for provisional or permanent (ten year) licencees.

    In addition, the ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) has released a list of 59 MSOs, of which seven are pending in courts and the others have been treated as closed. Faced with just less than a month before the switch-off of analogue signals, the government had, on 6 March 2017, decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with the condition that the period of 10 years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the state, then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the ministry’s website specified. All other terms and conditions stated in the provisional registration letter(s) will continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it was decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas. However, they have to submit the details of Headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to the ministry, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the ministry within six months.

    The Tamil Nadu-Government-run TACTV was granted provisional licence on 18 April 2017 to operate as a MSO in the state on the condition that it switches off analogue signals in the state within three months which has now been extended to 17 August 2017.

    The MIB had then told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear that the provisional licence was subject to the Centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that no government-owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels. TRAI had, in 2008, 2012 and 2014, held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    In Tamil Nadu where there is a court stay in operation since Phase I, TACTV had warned MSOs and LCOs against switching off analogue signals anywhere in the state after 31 March 2017.

    Arasu had been granted provisional licence in 2006 at the time of the Conditional Access System on certain conditions based on the TRAI report but this had not been renewed when Digital Addressable System came into force.

    Also read

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation

  • Hathway reports improved performance

    BENGALURU: Indian multi system operator (MSO) Hathway Cable and Datacom Limited (Hathway) reported 18.5 per cent growth in consolidated Total Income  (Total Revenue) for the fiscal ended 31 March 2017 (FY-17, current year or fiscal) as compared to FY-16. The company’s consolidated operating profit increased 58.9 percent in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2017.

    Hathway reported consolidated Total Revenue of Rs 13,682.3 million for FY-17 as compared to Rs 11,550.4 million in the previous year. Consolidated Income from Operations increased 18.9 percent in the current year to Rs 13,371.2 million from Rs 11,241.8 million in the previous year.

    Consolidated simple EBIDTA including operating and other income increased to Rs 2,210.7 million (16.2 percent of Total Revenue) in the current year as compared to Rs 1,391.1 million (12 percent of Total Revenue) in fiscal 2016.

    Hathway’s consolidated net loss for FY-17 reduced to Rs 1,929.4 million from Rs 2,376.8 million in FY-16.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by the company

    Consolidated total expenses for the year increased 14.6 percent to Rs 15,636.6 million (114.3 percent of Total Revenue) as compared to Rs 13,646.3 million (121.4 percent of Total Revenue) in FY-16.

    Pay channel cost went up by 8.8 percent in FY-17 to Rs 4,716.9 million (34.5 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 4,335.6 million (38.6 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year. Employee Benefits Expense increased 8.1 percent to Rs 931.5 million (6.8 percent of Total Revenue) in fiscal 2017 from Rs 862 million (7.7 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous fiscal.

    Other operational expense in FY-17 increased 25.9 percent to Rs 2,564.7 million (18.7 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 2,036.5 million (18.1 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year. Other expenses increased 11.4 percent to Rs 3,258.5 million (23.8 percent of Total Revenue) in FY-17 from Rs 2,925.2 million (26 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year.

    Finance costs increased 23.3 percent in the current year to Rs 1,107.5 million (8.1 percent of Total Revenue) from Rs 898.4 million (8 percent of Total Revenue) in the previous year.

    The company has stated in its financial results: Pursuant to the approval of the internal restructuring by the board of directors and the shareholders and after seeking in-principle prior approvals from the lenders, Hathway transferred its Cable Television business by way of slump sale to its wholly owned subsidiary Hathway Digital Private Limited (earlier known as Hathway Datacom Central Private Limited) (said Subsidiary) with effect from close of business hours as of March 31, 2017 for a total consideration of Rs. 302 crore (Rs 3,020 million). In view of the same, all assets and liabilities including borrowings attributed to the cable television business got vested in the said subsidiary.

  • Slow rise in number of MSOs, a month after DAS implementation

    NEW DELHI: With registration being given to eight more multi-system operators, the total number of MSOs has risen to 1384 by the end of April 2017.

    Following the decision of the government to deem all provisional multi-system operators as having regular licence and giving a provisional licence to the Tamil Nadu Arasu TV Corporation, the total number of MSOs went up to 1376 by the third week of April.

    Interestingly, the new list of MSOs now also gives the e-mail and mobile numbers of the MSOs as it has done away with the columns specifying area of coverage or date of registration. Thus, TACTV is the only MSO on the provisional list and all the others are deemed to have a permanent licence for ten years.

    Thus, there has been increase of 202 MSOs in the country since the end of February as the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had given registration to 1182 MSOs by the end of February 2017 which included 230 which had valid ten-year licences.

    But, faced with just less than one month to go before total switch-off of analogue signals, the Government had on, 6 March 2017, decided to treat all MSOs as permanent but with condition that the period of ten years commences from the date they got registered as provisional MSOs.

    However, if the continuation of registration of any MSO is at any time found to be or considered detrimental to the security of the State then the registration so granted is liable to be cancelled/suspended, the order placed on the Ministry website mib.nic.in specified.

    All other terms and conditions depicted in the provisional registration letter(s) wlll continue to apply.

    Earlier, on 27 January 2017, it had been decided that all registered MSOs are free to operate in any part of the country, irrespective of registration for specified DAS notified areas granted by this Ministry.

    However, they have to submit the details of Headend, SMS, subscribers list and a self-certificate that they are carrying all the mandatory TV Channels, within six months from date of issuance of MSO registration, to the Ministry, failing which the MSO registration is liable to cancelled/suspended.

    Hence, all deemed regular registered MSOs also are required to submit the details to the Ministry within six months.

    The Tamil Nadu-Government-run TACTV was granted provisional licence on 18 April 2017 to operate as a MSO in the state on condition that it switches off analogue signals in the entire state within three months.

    The Ministry had told indiantelevision.com that it had been made clear that the provisional licence was subject to the Centre taking a final decision on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that no government owned body should be permitted in the field of running or distributing television channels.  TRAI had in 2008, 2012 and 2014 held that state governments and political parties should not be permitted to own TV channels or distribution channels.

    In Tamil Nadu where there is a court stay in operation since Phase I, TACTV had warned MSOs and LCOs against switching off analogue signals anywhere in the state after 31 March 2017.

    The sources said that Arasu had been granted provisional licence in 2006 at the time of the Conditional Access System on certain conditions based on the TRAI report but this had not been renewed when Digital Addressable System came into force.

    Also read :

    Including Arasu, total number of MSOs goes up to 1376, to ensure DAS implementation