Can Infrastructure be Shared in Broadcasting Sector

Broadcasting Industry today has grown to an enormous size in the country. Each Distribution Platform Operator (DPO) retransmits on an average 350 satellite TV channels along with other services that may be unique for that particular operator. Most of the re-transmitted satellite TV channels are common across the operators.

CASBAA Satellite Industry Forum 2016: Seizing New Growth Opportunities Amidst Technological and Economic Changes

The emergence of new technologies in the satellite industry, including the arrival of HTS GSO and NGSO systems, is prompting the industry to embrace a substantial shift – from offering one-size-fits-all capacity to creating value propositions better tailored to customers’ fast-growing, diverse demand and the price pressures in dynamic economic circumstances. 

‘ICT Entrepreneurship for Social Impact’ WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY 2016

PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry celebrated World Telecom Day organizing a conference on Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) Entrepreneurship for Social Impact on May 17, 2016 at PH D House, New Delhi.

Interconnect Agreements Must Be Transparent and Non Discriminatory

TRAI holds open house discussion on Register of Interconnection Agreements

Net Neutrality in Focus once again

The telecom industry in India has grown tremendously, both in terms of penetration as well as connectivity. Today, India is one of the fastest growing information and communication technologies markets in the world, fuelled largely by the cellular mobile revolution. Starting from a few million connections in 1997, we now have more than a billion connections, with 97.5% of them being wireless subscribers. With this, the overall teledensity in India at the end of 2015 stood at 81.83%.

Quality of Service Regulations under Review

Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) are two important aspects related to performance of communication services. The QoS is defined as totality of characteristics of a telecommunications service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated and implied needs of the user of the service. The QoE is defined as ‘The overall acceptability of an application or service, as perceived subjectively by the end-user. QoS focuses on network performance parameters and their objective quantification as a set of service parameters whereas QoE focuses on user- perceived effects. Better QoS is expected to result in enhanced QoE.

Registration open for new MSOs Phase III & IV

According to the updated list of DAS MSOs on the MIB website, 25 new provisional licences have been issued on 23 May 2016, making a total of 38 licences issued in May so far.

Broadcasters Pulled up for not Complying with Tariff Orders

On 9th May, the Telecom Authority of India (TRAI), in exercise of the powers conferred upon it under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, to protect the interest of service providers and consumers, directed all the broadcasters of pay channels to strictly comply with the provisions of clause 3C of Tariff Order, 2004 and clause 4 of the Tariff Order, 2010 at the time of providing signals of TV channels including in term of CPS agreements.

TRAI Rolls back 27.5% tariff hike post SC Judgement

After the TDSAT pointed out and the Supreme Court upheld the decision, the Telecom Regulator TRAI accepted that there is a healthy growth in the industry with rise in revenues outstripping the increasing inflation over the years and therefore concluded that inflation linked hike provided earlier vide Eleventh Tariff Amendment Order and thirteenth Tariff Amendment Order dated 31st March 2014 and 31st December 2014 respectively are not required at present.

Virtual Networks-a New Opportunity

Digitisation is almost complete in the country and now is the time to look ahead and go for IP based Next Generation Networks (NGN) that will enable MSOs to deliver not only hundreds of TV channels but also many broadband services to boost their revenue. The Gove rnment now allows the MSOs to become Virtual Network Operator (VNO) to carry all telecom services without being a telecom or ISP operator.

Regulations undergoing an Overhaul

Result of the recently held Assembly Elections in four states namely Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and in Union Territory Puducherry has made the ruling BJP jubilant as it has won a majority in Assam and made some in roads in the unchartered territories. Rumour is that it has made BJP confident of finding a solution to pass the GST Bill in the Parliament as well as bring other changes in the business environment of the country. 

Modi’s US visit boosts up the New Media market

PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the US last month gave a fillip to the New Media industry in the country. He made many media and technology giants like Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Qualcom and Cisco promise to invest heavily in projects in the country. It is a good sign for the Nation that has been facing numerous economic and political problem in the past. Let us hope Modi can make his Ministers and bureaucrats follow it up to see results on the ground as early as possible.
[CQ Spreading Spiritualism Indian Spiritual & Religious Website | EN]

Last Mile Operator Pushed to the Wall

Time the Governments review the regulations rather than let the small stakeholders rush to the Courts.

TRAI Amends Tariff Orders, directed by the courts

Ever since the process of implementing digitization started, courts have been kept extremely busy. Almost every regulation and Tariff order framed by the Regulator has been challenged in different courts. TDSAT, the sector tribunal gets the maximum load. 

Sunil Arora the New I&B Secretary to don the Crown of Thorns

On 31 August 2015 Shri Sunil Arora, a 1980 batch Rajasthan cadre IAS officer, has assumed charge as Secretary in the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB). Prior to this appointment, Arora was Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India.

Malwa Cable Operators (Punjab) seek CBI probe against Fastway

Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the CBI why the agency should not investigate a case of alleged harassment of small cable operators in Punjab's Malwa region, in a notice given on Agency on 23 September 2015. Notices have also been issued to state Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, Punjab Director General of Police, Punjab Home Secretary, MD of Fastway Transmission and others on a plea by the Malwa Cable Operators Asociation.

‘NXT DIGITAL’ HITS A Service to help the smallest LCO go Digital

Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting on 16 September 2015 launched the Headend-In-The -Sky (HITS) digital platform initiative, under the brand name NXT DIGITAL promoted by Hinduja Group in presence of Hinduja Ventures Chairman Ashok Hinduja and others.

Demystifying Set Top Box Manufacturing

Consumer Electronics Industry Body 'CEAMA' organized a seminar on Make in India with the theme  with the theme ‘Demystifying Set Top Box Manufacturing ‘ in co-operation with Deity & MIB, Govt. of India on 08 September at Hotel Crowne  Plaza, Electronic City, Bangaluru.

Last Mile Challenge Are we achieving our objective of Digital India

Universalizing Internet service is a foundational part of the Digital India initiative. Fewer than 20 percent Indians currently have access to the Internet, most of them on a very constrained and expensive mobile telephony mode. Government of India has initiated the ambitious National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project aimed at reaching fibre to every panchayat in India. However, there seems to be a conspicuous policy blind-spot regarding how connectivity will be carried from this NOFN backhaul to people's homes, local businesses, and local institutions like schools, hospitals and community centres. The current policy belief is that there is such immense demand for Internet connectivity that private players, whether state/ national level companies or local entrepreneurs, will quickly grasp the NOFN opportunity to build viable retail models. Facts on the ground however belie such hopes.

No Level Playing Field for Regional MSOs

A regional MSO highlights the problems faced by the small MSOs, trying to become DAS MSO.