Over 80 p c digitisation in 4 metros: I&B ministry

In a statement, the ministry claimed that this figure rises up to 87 percent if the progress made by Direct-To-Home (DTH) is also taken into account.

DTH operators have informed that 27 lakh boxes have been installed so far in the four metro cities, the ministry said.

Cable services in the country's four metros are slated to go completely digital by November 1 as per the deadline set by the government.

The I&B ministry said an analysis of data and the progress review showed that Mumbai has already achieved nearly 100 per cent digitisation.

Kolkata has achieved 78 per cent digitisation in cable alone and combined with DTH penetration, the percentage of digitisation in the city has gone up to 81 per cent.

The statement said in Delhi there was 74 per cent digitisation of cable services while Chennai was showing figures 60 per cent which grew to 85 percent if DTH was included.

The ministry claimed that as per the data provided by Multi System Operators, about 45,000 Set Top Boxes (STBs) are being installed daily in the designated four metros.

Cable TV households have to get a STB installed to go digital. The I&B ministry has launched an aggressive publicity campaign in the electronic and print media to spread awareness in this regard.

The ministry said that stakeholders had stepped up efforts to ensure that the deadline of October 31 is met.