Cable operators urge TRAI to revise recent tariff order

The Greater Guwahati Cable TV Operators' Association has urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to review the recently formulated tariff order for cable TV, DTH and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services in India, which is going to be implemented from December 29.

The new tariff will not give any benefit to the customers; instead, it will increase the cost of cable TV viewing. The local cable operators are also going to be highly affected by the new order, as the TRAI has given a very little share of revenue to them, a statement from the Association added.

General Secretary of the Association Swarupananda Bharali said that the cable TV business is as old as 25 years in Guwahati, but if the new order is to be implemented their business will stop very soon, causing a heavy loss. At this moment, more than 250 cable operators are covering more than one lakh customers in Guwahati and the new tariff order will affect them all, he added.

According to the Association, despite widespread protests across the country by cable TV operators, the government is going to implement the new tariff order with effect from December 29. All paid channels may be deactivated by the broadcasters on that day, although the free-to-air channels will continue.

The Association urged all customers to cooperate with their respective operators during this period of transition.