Govt rules-out any further extension of cable digitization deadline

31 Aug 2012 Evaluate

With the deadline for digitization of cable services nearing by, the government has made it clear that no further extension will be allowed to the mandatory cable digitization in the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Cracking the whip for delays in adhering to deadlines, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry has revoked registration of two multi-system operators (MSOs).

I&B Secretary, Uday Kumar Varma pointed out that 170,000 set-top boxes have to be seeded in a day in next 2 months to meet deadline and the current rate is not even one-tenth of this. Centre is concerned that the industry is not moving fast enough to install the required number of set-top boxes in time.

The Bill to digitize the cable sector in India by December 31, 2014 was passed by the Lok Sabha in December 2011. The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2011 includes mandatory digitization of the entire country, systematized registration of cable operators and the use of standard equipment by the industry, among other things.

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