New tariff order by Feb 1 or full blackout: Trai to cable, DTH operators

As the sunset date of Feb 1 nears, regulatory authority has reasserted that the implementation of the new tariff order has to be completed by the said date

Despite repeated assertions by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), the implementation of the new tariff order is proceeding at a sluggish pace. Sources in the know reveal that less than 50 per cent of the consumers’ choice has been recorded across cable-digital and direct-to-home (DTH) platforms.

In a meeting held on Monday in Delhi, Trai reiterated that the implementation of the order has to be completed within the migration timeline of February 1. Failing this, distribution platform operators (DPOs) would face consequences ranging from blackout by broadcasters to licence cancellation/suspension.

“The regulator made it clear that DPOs failing