81% cable digitisation achieved in 4 metros: I&B Ministry

Taking DTH additions into account, digitisation penetration is at 87%

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which is reviewing the progress of digitisation, has claimed that digital cable penetration has increased to 81% as of October 19 in the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Earlier this month, the digital penetration was at 77%.

By taking the direct-to-home (DTH) additions into account, the Ministry said, digitisation penetration will be at 87%.

DTH operators have informed the Ministry that 27 lakh set-top boxes (STBs) have been installed in the four metros.

As per the data provided by MSOs, currently about 45,000 STBs are being installed per day to meet the deadline of October 31, in the first phase of digitisation.

 

As per Ministry figures, Mumbai has been completely digitised, with the digital cable penetration at 100%. Kolkata has achieved 78% digitisation in cable alone. With DTH, the percentage of digitisation in Kolkata has gone up to 81%. In Delhi, digital cable penetration is 74% and with DTH it has gone up to 81%, while Chennai is lagging behind with only 60% cable digitisation. With DTH, it goes up to 85%.

The I&B Ministry had launched an aggressive campaign in the electronic and print media to take spread awareness. The promotional steps included print advertisements in local newspapers, SMS messages, spots on all TV and radio channels to inform people about the urgency to get STBs.