The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) will soon allow interoperability between cable service and DTH (direct-to-home) service providers, allowing users to change their cable operators, similar to the telecom segment.
As of now, cable operators and DTH service providers offer their services bundled with a set-top box which comes at a cost of Rs 1,500-2,000. However, if a consumer is not satisfied with his service provider, he is forced to buy a new set-top box from the other operator because of technical issues. Even the amount paid for the box is non-refundable.
Trai is framing its views on the issue and the final guidelines will be out within a couple of months, said sources. A consultation paper on draft tariff order, prescribing framework for commercial interoperability of customer premises equipment — set top box — in DTH services was floated in February last year.
However, the final recommendations are pending. Trai will now float a new concept paper on the same issue asking for ways to implement interoperability.
“The idea is to allow operability between cable operators and DTH service providers just like we can use our mobile phones. This will help consumers immensely and will promote competition while improving quality of services,” said a senior Trai official. In telecom segment, mobile number portability is allowed, enabling users to change service providers while retaining their mobile numbers.
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