ITV

Tag: Digital Addressable Cable

  • TRAI studying concerns of service providers about inter-operability of set top boxes for cable television

    TRAI studying concerns of service providers about inter-operability of set top boxes for cable television

    NEW DELHI: Some service providers have raised concerns about feasibility of technical interoperability of set top boxes to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    TRAI, which is considering interoperability to enable consumers to switch to other service providers if they are not satisfied, says the objections relate to technical and commercial reasons. TRAI sources said the regulator is currently in a consultative process to understand their concerns before arriving at a solution.The objective of STB inter-operability is to make available STBs in open market, which will provide an exit option to the consumers who want to change their service providers due to some reasons or the other.This is expected to facilitate competition and improve quality of services offered to the consumers TRAI feels.

    The regulatory framework of TRAI mandates the commercial interoperability by prescribing that the STBs/Customer Premises Equipments (CPE) to be provided on outright purchase basis, hire purchase basis and rental basis.

    TRAI has also notified Tariff orders for Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems which prescribes a standard tariff package for offering of STBs to the subscribers. This tariff order provides an easy exit option to the subscribers and ensures availability of STBs at reasonable price while protecting the interest of the service providers.

    Similarly for DTH services, TRAI has prescribed a tariff order which prescribes certain restrictions on the DTH operators offering schemes of Customer Premises Equipment. The tariff order for DTH services – the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Seventh) (the Direct to Home Services) Tariff Order 2015 of 1 April last year – has been challenged and is sub judice.

  • TRAI studying concerns of service providers about inter-operability of set top boxes for cable television

    TRAI studying concerns of service providers about inter-operability of set top boxes for cable television

    NEW DELHI: Some service providers have raised concerns about feasibility of technical interoperability of set top boxes to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

    TRAI, which is considering interoperability to enable consumers to switch to other service providers if they are not satisfied, says the objections relate to technical and commercial reasons. TRAI sources said the regulator is currently in a consultative process to understand their concerns before arriving at a solution.The objective of STB inter-operability is to make available STBs in open market, which will provide an exit option to the consumers who want to change their service providers due to some reasons or the other.This is expected to facilitate competition and improve quality of services offered to the consumers TRAI feels.

    The regulatory framework of TRAI mandates the commercial interoperability by prescribing that the STBs/Customer Premises Equipments (CPE) to be provided on outright purchase basis, hire purchase basis and rental basis.

    TRAI has also notified Tariff orders for Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems which prescribes a standard tariff package for offering of STBs to the subscribers. This tariff order provides an easy exit option to the subscribers and ensures availability of STBs at reasonable price while protecting the interest of the service providers.

    Similarly for DTH services, TRAI has prescribed a tariff order which prescribes certain restrictions on the DTH operators offering schemes of Customer Premises Equipment. The tariff order for DTH services – the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Seventh) (the Direct to Home Services) Tariff Order 2015 of 1 April last year – has been challenged and is sub judice.

  • TRAI calls for expediting interconnection

    TRAI calls for expediting interconnection

    MUMBAI: The implementation of Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems (DAS) in India is in progress in a phased manner. The entire structuring is planned in 4 phases.  In Phase-III, the    sunset  dates   for   analog   TV   transmission in   urban   areas   is 31 December, 2015.  

     

    The  MSOs (Multi System  Operators), who   have  been  granted registration  for  providing   cable  TV  services through  DAS,  are required to enter  into interconnection agreements with pay TV broadcasters for  re-transmission of  pay  TV  channels to  the  subscribers.

     

    According to the official report for implementation of DAS, the Authority has notified a comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing interconnection, quality of service, consumer complaint redressal regulation and tariff orders.

     

    The Regulatory framework for DAS  provides that every broadcaster shall  provide  the  signals of TV  channels to a  MSO, in accordance with  its  reference  interconnect offer  or as  may  be mutually agreed,  within  60 days from  the date of receipt  of the request and in case the request for providing signals of TV Channels is not agreed  to, the reasons  for such  refusal to provide signals  shall  be  conveyed to the  person  making  a request  within  60  days  from  the  date  of request.

     

    As the cutoff date for Phase-III areas is fast approaching, the registered MSOs are advised to make a written request to the broadcasters of pay channels for provisioning of the signals of TV channels as per their business requirement, so that they get signals of pay TV channels well before the cutoff date.

     

    The MSOs  who  have  approached  pay TV  broadcasters  for providing  signals  of TV channels  in accordance  with the provisions  of the interconnection  regulations  but have not been able to enter into interconnection  agreement even after passage of 60 days from the date of making request and also not received valid reasons for not entering into interconnection agreement from the broadcaster may write to TRAI by 28 November, 2015 through e-mail at das@trai.gov.in  for initiating action in such cases as per TRAI Act.