MUMBAI: With the digitisation sunset date of 30 June approaching in the four metros, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked all the cable operators – multi-system operators (MSOs) and local cable operators (LCOs) – to furnish details of their operations.
The I&B Ministry said that it is proposing to generate and maintain statistical database of MSOs and LCOs operating in the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
The Ministry wants details such as contact details, registration number, date of last renewal of registration and city and area of operation. In case of MSOs, further information asked for include city wise total number of LCOs being served, city wise total number of head-ends (existing and additionally planned), and channel capacity of each head-end.
Meanwhile, LCOs will have to provide details like total number of subscribers, total number of STBs required for digitisation, how many already installed, balance to be installed, number of STBs for which order is placed, what quality standards have been adopted for STBs and what mechanism has been put in place for redressal of grievances of subscribers.
The MSOs and LCOs are to provide the details latest by 20 April to Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd (BECIL).
As per Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011, it is mandatory for cable operators to make the switchover from analogue cable TV network to Digital Addressable System.
