Lok Sabha Question No. 2420 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-11
Subject: Inter-Operability on Set Top Boxes
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: ANANT KUMAR DATTATREYA HEGDE, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION D. NO.  2420 (TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.3.2016)

## INTER-OPERABILITY ON SET TOP BOXES

2420.     SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSING SHANKARRAO:

SHRI STAV RAJEEV:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is working on introducing  inter-operability on set top boxes which allow television watchers to change their DTH or cable TV service  providers  without  changing  the  set  top  box,  if  so,  the  details  and objectives thereof;
- (b) whether cable television providers and direct to home  players have expressed doubts about the technical viability of such a system;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
- (d) whether the Government had earlier introduced commercial inter-operability for STBs, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time by which a decision is likely to be taken in the matter?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c ): The issue of technical inter-operability of Set top Boxes is under the purview of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the regulator in the field. The objective  of  STB inter-operability  is  to  make  available  STBs  in  open  market, which will provide an exit option to the consumers who want to change their service providers  due  to  some  reasons  or  the  other.    This  is  expected  to  facilitate competition  and  improve  quality  of  services  offered  to  the  consumers.  TRAI  has informed  that  some  of  the  service  providers  have  raised  their  concerns  about feasibility  of  technical  interoperability  due  to  various  technical  and  commercial reasons,  and  it  is  in  a  consultative  process  to  understand  their  concerns  before arriving at a solution.

(d) & (e): The regulatory framework of TRAI mandates the commercial interoperability by prescribing that the STBs/Customer Premises Equipments (CPE) to  be  provided  on  outright  purchase  basis,  hire  purchase  basis  and  rental  basis. TRAI  has  also  notified  Tariff  orders  for  Digital  Addressable  Cable  TV  Systems which prescribes a standard tariff package for offering of STBs to the subscribers. This tariff order provides an easy exit option to the subscribers, ensures availability of  STBs  at  reasonable  price  and,  at  the  same  time,  protects  the  interest  of  the service  providers.    Similarly  for  DTH  services,  TRAI  has  prescribed  a  tariff  order which  prescribes  certain  restrictions  on  the  DTH  operators  offering  schemes  of Customer  Premises  Equipment.    The  applicable  tariff  order  for  DTH  services namely the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Seventh) (the Direct to Home Services) Tariff Order, 2015 (2 of 2015) dated 01.04.2015 is sub judice.

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