CAS ROLL OUT VI A New Era Begins

Conditional Access System, (CAS) a new ‘pay’ channel delivery system being implemented by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which gives TV viewers a choice to pay only for the channels they want to watch, commenced after the Delhi HC refused to grant an extension to its rollout. After many hiccups CAS came into force in notified areas of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata at the stroke of midnight on 31st December, 06. Consumers had for long campaigned for the freedom to choose the channels they would like to watch, rather than be forced to accept the package offered by cable operators who often clubbed popular channels with not so popular ones. TRAI regulation has at last made TV viewing a personal affair. CAS is government's solution to all the impediments in quality TV viewing and entertainment. It is government's special design, an answer to the broadcasters charging high subscriptions from the viewers but still not being able to provide quality TV viewing experience. CAS will organize the broadcasting industry right from the grassroots and avoid piracy and enable the government to keep an eye on what you see through your set top box. 

Cas to Speed up Digital Migratior

Successful implementation of CAS has given TRAI, The regulator a magic wand to spread digitalisation in rest of the country. It has already started working on it with zeal

Digitalization of Cable TV and introduction of voluntary CAS are two distinct and independent processes. However, the two processes are closely linked together in the sense that voluntary Conditional Access Systems are likely to be digital systems due to certain inherent advantages of digital systems. At the same time, voluntary CAS could be the driver for digitalization of cable TV in the country. The CAS for cable TV has been rolled out in parts of the three metros of Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata in digital mode only. CAS has already been implemented in Chennai. 

Digital Migration in India

Promoting Freedom of Choice on Digital Cable Networks through Secure Reception Techniques The success of any broadcasting (e.g. digital TV) operation depends on two fundamentals: the availability of attractive content and the ability to manage that content. 

Sterlite Fiber Café Concept

The Sterlite Fiber Café is a unique touch and feel experience center where the concept of 'Optical Fiber-to-the-desk' (FTTD). This was demonstrated for the first time in India at India Telecom 2006. 

The Sterlite Fiber Café allows visitors to experience true broadband via an Optical Fiber based infrastructure through exciting and interactive, real-time high bandwidth intensive applications for Business and Entertainment. These applications include Movies-on-Demand, Music-on-Demand, Online Gaming, IPTV, P2P, VoIP, Video Conferencing, Surveillance and other applications from a single portal. 

CAS Users In a New beginning

CAS is finally in and the government is already thinking of implementing it all over the metros soon and by the year end, it may announce CAS implementation in all major cities. I feel as far as government is concerned, it is thrilled to see the amount of revenue it is going to earn from taxes from such a large number of subscribers. Even the state governments have realized how much they were losing from the real subscriber count not being exposed in the non-CAS areas. In Delhi alone, where only 87000 households were paying the entertainment tax from South Delhi earlier, now the figures have already gone more than double of this, about 1.75 lakh set-top boxes have been installed. 

CAS Users In a New beginning

CAS is finally in and the government is already thinking of implementing it all over the metros soon and by the year end, it may announce CAS implementation in all major cities. I feel as far as government is concerned, it is thrilled to see the amount of revenue it is going to earn from taxes from such a large number of subscribers. Even the state governments have realized how much they were losing from the real subscriber count not being exposed in the non-CAS areas. In Delhi alone, where only 87000 households were paying the entertainment tax from South Delhi earlier, now the figures have already gone more than double of this, about 1.75 lakh set-top boxes have been installed. 

February 2007

Thursday, February 1, 2007 -- Union Government brought the Sports Broadcast Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharti) Ordinance, 2007 that makes it necessary for private broadcasters to share the live feed of sporting events of national importance with Prasar Bharti.