DELHI/PUNE: Strong protests by the cable TV operators across India including Maharashtra compelled Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to issue fresh directives on Friday. TRAI has shifted the deadline to implement the new plan from December 29 to February 1. These directives were issued following consultation with broadcasters, DTH operators and MSOs (multi-system operators). Based on discussion with all stakeholders, TRAI granted short-term relief to the cable TV distributors and operators across the country. However, the cable operators in the city said that this period is insufficient as they can only approach subscribers on weekends.
Pallavi Inamdar, a cable operator in the city, said that a period of three months should have been given. Inamdar said, "Till Jan 31, all cable operators have to submit choice of channels of each subscriber to Distribution Platform Operators (DPO)."
Inamdar said that this period is not adequate as consumers are available only on weekends. Inamdar said that majority of cable operators have technical staff at their disposal so explaining choices to consumers is challenging in the given period of time. He said that some channels charge less than one rupee per month so the billing and payment will be a difficult task.
Pune Cable Operators Association (PCOA) has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the new framework citing the plans to be exorbitant and hence, anti-consumer. Prachi Shah of PCOA confirmed that the petition will be heard on January 9.
TRAI held a series of discussions with the stakeholders during last 4-6 weeks which enabled it to understand the challenges of migration of around 150 million cable TV subscribers to the new framework. TRAI recognised the time required by the DPOs to educate the subscribers and seek their choices. TRAI has informed that the DPOs will declare the Distributor Retail Price (DRP) and Network Capacity Fee (NCF) by December 29.
As per the new TRAI framework, till January 31, the status quo will be maintained for all old plans/packs/bouquets. The order further states that on the pretext of the implementation of new TRAI policy, the existing connection will not be disconnected by Distribution Platform Operators (DPO) like DTH/MSO/IPTV/HITS. The order mentions that all DPOs have to reach out to subscribers to enquire their options on priority. The data pertaining to the subscribers' choices will have to be stored in a manner that it enables easy verification.
The progress report on the subscribers' choices have to be forwarded to TRAI by DPOs every week. TRAI has laid down three timelines to the DPOs which involves reaching minimum 30 per cent subscribers by January 7, 60 per cent by January 14 and 100 per cent by January 21. The new plans will come into effect from February 1.
FRESH DIRECTIVES OF TRAI
- Status Quo, current plans valid till January 31
- 100% subscribers' choices by January 21
- Weekly progress report of choices to TRAI
- Apt storage method for easy verification
- Distributor Retail Price (DRP) & Network
- Capacity Fee (NCF) by December 29
- New plans effective from February 1