ITV

Tag: Madhya Pradesh

  • Total 1,315 solar empanelled Wi-Fi towers built in Red Corridor

    Total 1,315 solar empanelled Wi-Fi towers built in Red Corridor

    NEW DELHI: Following a call by the government to increase the reach of communications in the Red Corridor, around 1,315 solar empanelled towers have been set up in the Left Wing Exteremists region in record time

    The work was undertaken by Vihaan Networks Limited (VNL), a pioneer in designing, developing and manufacturing of Telecommunications network solutions.

    The Home Ministry along with Department of Telecom (DoT) had decided to build a mobile phone network in the most-affected regions across ten Indian States, recognizing that combating insurgency in India’s Red Corridor must include the provision of a robust communication network as an important element of its strategy. These include some of the most hostile terrain in the country, with practically no roads, power or security.

    Around 2199 solar-powered mobile communication towers have been set up in a record time of less than a year, altering the geographical and social landscape of the area.

    On 20 August 2014, the Union Cabinet approved the extension of mobile telephonic services to 2,199 locations affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. There are 106 districts across 10 states which have been identified by the government as LWE-affected districts.

    The project was executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). BSNL has successfully installed towers at these locations giving network coverage to many villages as well as security forces camps and important locations with the help of domestic vendors Vihaan Networks Ltd and HFCL.

    India’s cell phone revolution has helped shape the economic development and improved governance for its citizens, leading to game-changing reforms such as better targeting of subsidies.

    Vihaan Network Chairman Rajiv Mehrotra said “It is a proud moment for us as we been able to connect millions of rural consumers, through our efficient infrastructure and expertise in Solar enabled telecom equipments. When we talk of integrated socio-economic development, it takes into account many areas that can benefit from faster access and enhanced productivities by using voice & data connectivity be it security, surveillance, connectivity and information access. In areas which are bereft of basic infrastructure, mobile connectivity underlines the solution to many.”

    VNL has accomplished connectivity in 10 states, 90 districts, 12,700 villages, 39, 00,000 mobile connections, 110 million crore connected citizens connected and enabled security forces.

    The project is funded by the Dot arm USOF, the total project cost was Rs 3567.58 crores this includes CAPEX as well as O&M for a period of 5 years.

  • Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

    Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

    BENGALURU: The Bibhu Prasad Rath led regional cable television and broadband internet player Ortel Communications Limited (Ortel) reported less than one third  ( 1/3.6 times) profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter). Ortel reported PAT in Q1-17 at Rs 0.86 crore (1.6 percent margin) as compared to Rs 3.05 crore (7.5 percent margin) in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The improved performance by company’s cable and broadband segments were pulled down by the lower execution of the company’s Infrastructure Leasing segment. Cable TV and broadband segments are the major contributors to Ortel’s numbers.

    Ortel provides services in the Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

    Ortel’s Total Income from Operations (TIO) increased 29.1 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) in the current year to Rs 52.42 crore as compared to Rs 40.60 crore in Q1-16. TIO declined marginally (declined 1.6 percent) quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) from Rs 53.28 crore in Q4-16.

    Company speak:

    Ortel President and CEO Rath said, “We have begun the year on a positive note with healthy results in our Cable Television and Broadband segments. This is reflected in the revenues which grew y-o-y by 45 percent and 26 percent respectively in Q1-17. I am also pleased to highlight that the total subscriber addition stood strong at 68,949 during the quarter taking our total subscriber base to 770,141. Our profitability however was impacted during the period under review primarily due to lower quarterly execution in the  Infrastructure Leasing business. Going forward I expect Infrastructure Leasing business to return back to normalcy in the coming quarters as execution picks up.

    Revenue breakup

    Cable TV revenue in Q1-17 increased 44.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 41.20 crore from Rs 28.43 crore in Q1-16 and increased 5.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 39.14 crore.

    Cable TV Activation fees or connection fees in Q1-17 were  almost 7 times at Rs 4.6 crore as compared to Rs 0.7 crore in Q1-16, but declined 23.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 6 crore. Cable TV subscription revenue in Q1-17 increased 38.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 27.7 crore from Rs 20 crore and increased 11.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 24.8 crore. Channel carriage fees in the current quarter increased 14.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 8.9 crore from Rs 7.8 crore and increased 7.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.3 crore.

    Broadband services revenue in Q1-17 increased 26 percent to Rs 9.5 crore from Rs 7.5 crore in Q1-16 and increased 6.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.9 crore. Internet connection fees in Q1-17 increased 13.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 0.7 crore from Rs 0.6 crore and increased 1.6 percent q-o-q. Internet subscription fees in Q1-17 increased 27 percent y-o-y to Rs 8.8 crore from Rs 7 crore and increased 6.6 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.3 crore.

    Ortel’s revenue from its infrastructure leasing segment in Q1-17 declined 75.4 percent to Rs 10 crore from Rs3.9 crore in Q1-16 and declined 78.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 4.4 crore.

    On a geographical basis, in the current quarter, revenue from Ortel’c core market – Odisha increased 13.9 percent to Rs 42.2 crore from Rs 37.1 crore but declined 5.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 44.6 crore. EBIDTA from the Odisha region in Q1-17 increased 5.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 17.2 crore from Rs 16.3 crore but declined 14.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 20.1 crore

    Revenue from Ortel’s Emerging Markets (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and West Bengal) more than tripled (3.2 times) y-o-y to Rs 9.7 crore in q1-17 from Rs 3 crore and increased 15.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.4 crore. Emerging markets reported lower negative EBIDTA in Q1-17 at Rs 0.7 crore as compared to a negative EIDTA of Rs 1 crore in Q1-16  and same as the negative EBIDTA of Rs 0.7 crore in Q4-16.

    Subscription numbers (revenue generating units – RGUs’), ARPU

    During the current quarter, the total subscribers (both cable and television) stood at 770,141 subscribers. Net addition in Q1-17 stood at 68,949 as compared to 74,717 subscriber additions in Q4-16. Percentage of digital TV subscribers in Q1-17 increased to 43.6 from 37.1 in the immediate trailing quarter.

    Television ARPU’s have been falling. Analog and Digital TV ARPU stood as Rs. 141 per month and Rs. 169 per month respectively. Digital ARPU in Q1-16 was Rs 185 and in Q4-16, it was Rs 178.

    The company added 5,124 broadband subscribers in Q1-17, taking its total broadband subscriber count to 77.609.

    Broadband ARPU in the current quarter increased to Rs 401 from Rs 393 in Q1-16 and Rs 398 in Q4-16.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Ortel in brief.

    Higher y-o-y total expenses (TE) in Q1-17 have also resulted in the lower PAT numbers for Q1-17 vis-à-vis Q1-16. Ortel’s TE in the current quarter increased 33.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 45.86 crore (87.5 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 34.42 crore (84.8 percent of TIO), and increased 2.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 44.82 crore (84.1 percent of TIO).

    Programming cost in Q1-17 came in higher at Rs. 10 crore. Employee expenses during the current quarter stood higher y-o-y at Rs. 6.22 crore. EBITDA in Q1-17 (including other income) came in at Rs. 12.51 crore, representing a q-o-q decline of 6.1 percent.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

  • Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

    Q1-17: Infrastructure leasing segment pulls down Ortel’s numbers

    BENGALURU: The Bibhu Prasad Rath led regional cable television and broadband internet player Ortel Communications Limited (Ortel) reported less than one third  ( 1/3.6 times) profit after tax (PAT) for the quarter ended 30 June 2016 (Q1-17, current quarter). Ortel reported PAT in Q1-17 at Rs 0.86 crore (1.6 percent margin) as compared to Rs 3.05 crore (7.5 percent margin) in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The improved performance by company’s cable and broadband segments were pulled down by the lower execution of the company’s Infrastructure Leasing segment. Cable TV and broadband segments are the major contributors to Ortel’s numbers.

    Ortel provides services in the Indian states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.

    Ortel’s Total Income from Operations (TIO) increased 29.1 percent year-over-year (y-o-y) in the current year to Rs 52.42 crore as compared to Rs 40.60 crore in Q1-16. TIO declined marginally (declined 1.6 percent) quarter-over-quarter (q-o-q) from Rs 53.28 crore in Q4-16.

    Company speak:

    Ortel President and CEO Rath said, “We have begun the year on a positive note with healthy results in our Cable Television and Broadband segments. This is reflected in the revenues which grew y-o-y by 45 percent and 26 percent respectively in Q1-17. I am also pleased to highlight that the total subscriber addition stood strong at 68,949 during the quarter taking our total subscriber base to 770,141. Our profitability however was impacted during the period under review primarily due to lower quarterly execution in the  Infrastructure Leasing business. Going forward I expect Infrastructure Leasing business to return back to normalcy in the coming quarters as execution picks up.

    Revenue breakup

    Cable TV revenue in Q1-17 increased 44.9 percent y-o-y to Rs 41.20 crore from Rs 28.43 crore in Q1-16 and increased 5.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 39.14 crore.

    Cable TV Activation fees or connection fees in Q1-17 were  almost 7 times at Rs 4.6 crore as compared to Rs 0.7 crore in Q1-16, but declined 23.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 6 crore. Cable TV subscription revenue in Q1-17 increased 38.7 percent y-o-y to Rs 27.7 crore from Rs 20 crore and increased 11.5 percent q-o-q from Rs 24.8 crore. Channel carriage fees in the current quarter increased 14.3 percent y-o-y to Rs 8.9 crore from Rs 7.8 crore and increased 7.8 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.3 crore.

    Broadband services revenue in Q1-17 increased 26 percent to Rs 9.5 crore from Rs 7.5 crore in Q1-16 and increased 6.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.9 crore. Internet connection fees in Q1-17 increased 13.4 percent y-o-y to Rs 0.7 crore from Rs 0.6 crore and increased 1.6 percent q-o-q. Internet subscription fees in Q1-17 increased 27 percent y-o-y to Rs 8.8 crore from Rs 7 crore and increased 6.6 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.3 crore.

    Ortel’s revenue from its infrastructure leasing segment in Q1-17 declined 75.4 percent to Rs 10 crore from Rs3.9 crore in Q1-16 and declined 78.4 percent q-o-q from Rs 4.4 crore.

    On a geographical basis, in the current quarter, revenue from Ortel’c core market – Odisha increased 13.9 percent to Rs 42.2 crore from Rs 37.1 crore but declined 5.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 44.6 crore. EBIDTA from the Odisha region in Q1-17 increased 5.5 percent y-o-y to Rs 17.2 crore from Rs 16.3 crore but declined 14.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 20.1 crore

    Revenue from Ortel’s Emerging Markets (Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana and West Bengal) more than tripled (3.2 times) y-o-y to Rs 9.7 crore in q1-17 from Rs 3 crore and increased 15.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 8.4 crore. Emerging markets reported lower negative EBIDTA in Q1-17 at Rs 0.7 crore as compared to a negative EIDTA of Rs 1 crore in Q1-16  and same as the negative EBIDTA of Rs 0.7 crore in Q4-16.

    Subscription numbers (revenue generating units – RGUs’), ARPU

    During the current quarter, the total subscribers (both cable and television) stood at 770,141 subscribers. Net addition in Q1-17 stood at 68,949 as compared to 74,717 subscriber additions in Q4-16. Percentage of digital TV subscribers in Q1-17 increased to 43.6 from 37.1 in the immediate trailing quarter.

    Television ARPU’s have been falling. Analog and Digital TV ARPU stood as Rs. 141 per month and Rs. 169 per month respectively. Digital ARPU in Q1-16 was Rs 185 and in Q4-16, it was Rs 178.

    The company added 5,124 broadband subscribers in Q1-17, taking its total broadband subscriber count to 77.609.

    Broadband ARPU in the current quarter increased to Rs 401 from Rs 393 in Q1-16 and Rs 398 in Q4-16.

    Let us look at the other numbers reported by Ortel in brief.

    Higher y-o-y total expenses (TE) in Q1-17 have also resulted in the lower PAT numbers for Q1-17 vis-à-vis Q1-16. Ortel’s TE in the current quarter increased 33.2 percent y-o-y to Rs 45.86 crore (87.5 percent of TIO) as compared to Rs 34.42 crore (84.8 percent of TIO), and increased 2.3 percent q-o-q from Rs 44.82 crore (84.1 percent of TIO).

    Programming cost in Q1-17 came in higher at Rs. 10 crore. Employee expenses during the current quarter stood higher y-o-y at Rs. 6.22 crore. EBITDA in Q1-17 (including other income) came in at Rs. 12.51 crore, representing a q-o-q decline of 6.1 percent.

    Note: The unit of currency in this report is the Indian rupee – Rs (also conventionally represented by INR). The Indian numbering system or the Vedic numbering system has been used to denote money values. The basic conversion to the international norm would be:

    (a) 100,00,000 = 100 lakh = 10,000,000 = 10 million = 1 crore.

    (b) 10,000 lakh = 100 crore = 1 arab = 1 billion.

  • Prabhu Chawla’s National Voice channel to focus on investigative journalism

    Prabhu Chawla’s National Voice channel to focus on investigative journalism

    MUMBAI: Seeing a need to break-free from the journalism that is followed on news channels, Prabhu Chawla is all geared up to launch a news channel called National Voice. With the core focus on laying out the problems and solutions of UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand, he will also launch other channels for the markets of Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, etc.

    Chawla will be associated with the channel as its chief editorial advisor. The channel is majorly banking on investigative journalism and will use sting without stink, he says.

    With an aim to connect various states to one language, the new channel will strive on news first and views later. The motto of the channel is Aapka Sawal, Aapka Jawab. Commenting on the launch Chawla says, “We will fear none and favour none. We have built a team of professional editors who have a combined experience of 50 years in the television news genre. We have a heavily decentralised system in which each one takes an independent decision, but all think collectively”.

    The channel has two promoters – the main promoter is an UP-based industrialist while Chawla holds a minor stake in the channel. He also admits that many leading brands have approached him for sponsoring a couple of his channel’s shows, although he was reluctant at disclosing commercial details at this stage.

    The channel is banking on content, tone and its vision as its differentiating factor over the rest of the available channels. Focussed at answering the 5 Ws (what, when, why, where, who) and 1 H (how), the channel will chase the story and also provide follow-ups to its viewers. It is starting off with the heartland of the country and will be available on various DTH platforms.

    “We are taking UP to India, not India to UP like the national channels. We will go behind and beyond the news. Content is king for us and reporters are the best news smiths. Our channel will be not be led by anchors. On the contrary news will lead the anchor”, he reveals.

    Chawla is of the opinion that regional channels are more successful than English and national Hindi channels. His channel will manifest what the people want to see and are curious about and will connect to local people through their vision.

    After ideating for over a year, the channel’s logo has been designed by a group of young professionals and is all ready to come out by June. “It is not meant to be in the public domain. It is a team of young professional from a design institute who have been guided by experienced people”, concludes Chawla.

     

  • Prabhu Chawla’s National Voice channel to focus on investigative journalism

    Prabhu Chawla’s National Voice channel to focus on investigative journalism

    MUMBAI: Seeing a need to break-free from the journalism that is followed on news channels, Prabhu Chawla is all geared up to launch a news channel called National Voice. With the core focus on laying out the problems and solutions of UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand, he will also launch other channels for the markets of Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, etc.

    Chawla will be associated with the channel as its chief editorial advisor. The channel is majorly banking on investigative journalism and will use sting without stink, he says.

    With an aim to connect various states to one language, the new channel will strive on news first and views later. The motto of the channel is Aapka Sawal, Aapka Jawab. Commenting on the launch Chawla says, “We will fear none and favour none. We have built a team of professional editors who have a combined experience of 50 years in the television news genre. We have a heavily decentralised system in which each one takes an independent decision, but all think collectively”.

    The channel has two promoters – the main promoter is an UP-based industrialist while Chawla holds a minor stake in the channel. He also admits that many leading brands have approached him for sponsoring a couple of his channel’s shows, although he was reluctant at disclosing commercial details at this stage.

    The channel is banking on content, tone and its vision as its differentiating factor over the rest of the available channels. Focussed at answering the 5 Ws (what, when, why, where, who) and 1 H (how), the channel will chase the story and also provide follow-ups to its viewers. It is starting off with the heartland of the country and will be available on various DTH platforms.

    “We are taking UP to India, not India to UP like the national channels. We will go behind and beyond the news. Content is king for us and reporters are the best news smiths. Our channel will be not be led by anchors. On the contrary news will lead the anchor”, he reveals.

    Chawla is of the opinion that regional channels are more successful than English and national Hindi channels. His channel will manifest what the people want to see and are curious about and will connect to local people through their vision.

    After ideating for over a year, the channel’s logo has been designed by a group of young professionals and is all ready to come out by June. “It is not meant to be in the public domain. It is a team of young professional from a design institute who have been guided by experienced people”, concludes Chawla.

     

  • No fixation of Govt percentage for advertisements in states: Rijiju

    No fixation of Govt percentage for advertisements in states: Rijiju

    New Delhi: The Government has denied that any orders have been issued for fixing the percentage of expenditure for ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ linguistic regions on advertising in Hindi and English.

    Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said a certain percentage of total expenditure on Government advertisements to be given in Hindi and English may be decided by Central Ministries/Departments according to their requirements.

    This was in accordance with the President’s Orders on the recommendations of the Eighth part of the report of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language, he added in a reply in Parliament.

    Region “A” means the States of Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand,  Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territories of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands; “Region A” means the States of

    “Region B” means the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

    “Region C” means all other States and Union Territories

  • No fixation of Govt percentage for advertisements in states: Rijiju

    No fixation of Govt percentage for advertisements in states: Rijiju

    New Delhi: The Government has denied that any orders have been issued for fixing the percentage of expenditure for ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ linguistic regions on advertising in Hindi and English.

    Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said a certain percentage of total expenditure on Government advertisements to be given in Hindi and English may be decided by Central Ministries/Departments according to their requirements.

    This was in accordance with the President’s Orders on the recommendations of the Eighth part of the report of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language, he added in a reply in Parliament.

    Region “A” means the States of Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand,  Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and the Union Territories of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Islands; “Region A” means the States of

    “Region B” means the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

    “Region C” means all other States and Union Territories

  • Negligible rise in MSOs to 840 with 609 provisional licencees

    Negligible rise in MSOs to 840 with 609 provisional licencees

    NEW DELHI: With the second quarter of the last year of implementation of the final phase of the digital addressable system having begun, the government is attempting to speed up the process of clearing licences for multi-system operators and the number has now gone up to 840 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences.

    The latest list as on 29 April shows that thirteen more MSOs have been given provisional licences in the week after 21 April and the total of provisional licencees has now risen above 600 to number 609 as against 596.

    By 12 January, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the latest list, the area of operation of one MSO has been revised after 21 April. Unlike the last list, none of the new MSOs have been given pan-India licences. The new registrations are for the states of, or specific disctricts in, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Harayana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the Home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August 2014, but this cancellation was set aside by Madras High Court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending. 

    Sources denied that denial of security clearance was the reason for provisional licences and said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • Negligible rise in MSOs to 840 with 609 provisional licencees

    Negligible rise in MSOs to 840 with 609 provisional licencees

    NEW DELHI: With the second quarter of the last year of implementation of the final phase of the digital addressable system having begun, the government is attempting to speed up the process of clearing licences for multi-system operators and the number has now gone up to 840 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences.

    The latest list as on 29 April shows that thirteen more MSOs have been given provisional licences in the week after 21 April and the total of provisional licencees has now risen above 600 to number 609 as against 596.

    By 12 January, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry had cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the latest list, the area of operation of one MSO has been revised after 21 April. Unlike the last list, none of the new MSOs have been given pan-India licences. The new registrations are for the states of, or specific disctricts in, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Harayana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the Home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August 2014, but this cancellation was set aside by Madras High Court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending. 

    Sources denied that denial of security clearance was the reason for provisional licences and said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.

  • Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    Provisionally licensed MSOs’ rises to 561, taking total to over 790

    NEW DELHI: At a time when the last phase of the digital addressable system for cable TV is gathering momentum, the government cleared just under forty multi system operators over the past month, taking the total to 792 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 26 February had put the total at 753 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Information and Broadcasting had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases.

    According to the list issued today but dated till 26 March, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended. None of the 39 new licencees have got pan-India registration, though some have the registration to cover a particular state and most have only clearances for some districts. The new registrations are for from Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Gujarat, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

    With the home ministry directive about doing away with security clearances for MSOs’ not being communicated in writing to the MIB, the pace remains slow.

    The permanent licence issued to Kal Cable of Chennai had been cancelled on 20 August, 2014 but this cancellation was set aside by the Madras high court on 5 September the same year. However, Kal Cable’s name continues to be in the cancelled list – presumably because the cases are still pending.

    Sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.