Lok Sabha Question No. 6215 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Use of Satellite Transponders by DTH Sector
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE, SHIVAJI ADHALRAO PATIL, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE, DHARMENDRA YADAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6215 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2018)

## USE OF SATELLITE TRANSPONDERS BY DTH SECTOR

## 6215.   SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

DR. PRITAM GOPINATH MUNDE: SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the DTH sector is one of the largest users of satellite transponders;
- (b) if  so,  whether  with  increase  in  demand  for  high  definition  channels,  the requirement  for  satellite  transponders  is  also  increasing  day  by  day  and availability of adequate satellite transponders for growth is always a concern of DTH operators;
- (c) if so, the facts thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Telecom  Regulatory  Authority  of  India  (TRAI)  recommended sharing of back-end infrastructure between satellite TV service distributors to help them cut their cost of operations;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f)  whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  allow  sharing  of  satellite  transponders  and the  earth  station  facilities  by  a  DTH  operator  with  other  DTH  players  and distribution platforms; and
- (g) if  so,  the details thereof and the extent to which the sharing of transponders address their demand-supply mismatch and reduce both capital and operating expenditure of the companies?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING {COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.)}

(a) to (c) Yes sir.  Presently DTH services are being supported by 42 transponders on  indigenous  satellites  (INSAT/GSAT)  and  about  69  transponders  on  foreign satellites.    There  is  a  registered  demand  of  additional  about  64  transponders for immediate future.  It is expected that over a period of next three years adequate capacity would be added through Indian satellites to facilitate migration of foreign capacity to Indian capacity.  As per data reported to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) by broadcasters, there is a significant growth in the number of high definition  (HD) Satellite Pay TV channels.  The number has grown from 3 in the year 2010 to 83 in the year 2017.

(d) & (e) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued recommendations on sharing of Infrastructure in Television broadcasting distribution  sector  on  29.03.2017.    These  recommendations  are  available  on TRAI's website www.trai.gov.in. The objectives of these recommendations are to enable a policy environment  for facilitating sharing of infrastructure in  TV broadcasting  &  distribution  sector,  on  voluntary  basis.    The  sharing  of  the infrastructure  is  expected  to  enhance  available  channel  capacities  leading  to reduction  in  capital  &  operative  expenditure  for  the  service  providers  thereby bringing  down  the  price  of  broadcasting  services  to  subscribers.    In  addition,  it would lower the entry barriers for news service providers and provide more space on broadcasting distribution networks for niche channels.

(f)  &  (g)  Ministry  of  Information  and  Broadcasting  has  not  received  any  proposal from DTH operators for sharing of satellite transponders and earth station facilities with other DTH  players and distribution platforms. Enabling sharing of infrastructure  may  address  the  issue  of  demand-supply  mismatch  and  reduce capital and operating expenditure of the service provider to an appreciable extent.

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