ITV

Tag: multi-system

  • Total number of MSO provisional licence holders rises to 522, taking total to over 750

    Total number of MSO provisional licence holders rises to 522, taking total to over 750

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Government got a fillip with the Supreme Court saying that Bombay High Court order did not imply a pan-India stay of digital addressable systems, 26 more multi-system operators got registration in the third week last month and took the total number to 753 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 17 February had put the total at 727 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases. According to the list issued today, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended.

    The new licencees have all got state-wise licences and none has got a pan-India licence. These are from Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Utar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

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

     

  • Total number of MSO provisional licence holders rises to 522, taking total to over 750

    Total number of MSO provisional licence holders rises to 522, taking total to over 750

    NEW DELHI: Even as the Government got a fillip with the Supreme Court saying that Bombay High Court order did not imply a pan-India stay of digital addressable systems, 26 more multi-system operators got registration in the third week last month and took the total number to 753 including 231 which have permanent (ten-year licences) by 26 February.

    The last list issued on 17 February had put the total at 727 including the 231 which have permanent (ten-year) licences. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) had by 12 January cancelled the licences of 26 MSOs and closed their cases. According to the list issued today, the areas of operation of some of the MSOs have been revised or amended.

    The new licencees have all got state-wise licences and none has got a pan-India licence. These are from Gujarat, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Utar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Telangana, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

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

     

  • Ortel to focus on last mile; to expand in regional markets

    Ortel to focus on last mile; to expand in regional markets

    KOLKATA: Odisha-based multi-system operator, Ortel Communications Limited is looking at investing in expansion of its existing network as well as to new locations in the region. But it stays focused on last mile connectivity.

    The cable television service provider engaged in distribution of analogue and digital cable television services, high speed broadband services and VoIP services, plans to launch various new product lines including High Definition (HD) services to its subscribers.
    Our network is ready for digital services and we will have no difficulty in migrating to full Digital services believes Ortel CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath

    Going forward, apart from increasing its broadband subscriber base and penetration of digital services, the company is eyeing acquisition of MSOs and LMOs for expansion.

    To fund the above growth, the company is exploring various fund raising options including raising equity close to Rs 100 crore.

    Most of our markets are in phase III and IV of digitisation process. We are already active and increasing our digital penetration. Our network is ready for digital services and we will have no difficulty in migrating to full Digital services,” said Ortel CEO Bibhu Prasad Rath.

    It currently offers up to 215 digital channels. The channels on digital services are tiered to offer customers’ option to chose and pay for it.

    The pricing of our digital services is based on a differential pricing for subscribers choosing to avail different services. Currently, the monthly subscription varies from Rs 122 to Rs 305 per month including taxes. In addition to this, we also offer various genres based packages as add on as well as channels on a-la-carte basis,” added Rath.

    Ortel Communications at present has around five lakh subscribers including more than 50,000 broadband retail customers and more than 70,000 digital service users, rest being analogue service users.

    “As a conscious decision, we have preferred the depth model with focus on a given geographical market, control of last mile and full retention of subscription revenue. A major part of our revenue comes from subscriptions and we are comparatively less dependent on carriage fee,” he concluded.

    The business of Ortel is focused in the states of Odisha, Chhatisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. While the network is operational in 39 locations and the services are offered in 53 towns with more than 25,000 kilometers of cables, 35 analogue head ends and six digital head ends.