The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended that all set-top boxes (STBs) in the country must be interoperable, meaning that consumers should be able to use the same STB across different DTH or cable TV providers.

The TRAI and Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal are quite often seen in the news.  Most recent was the dispute risen due to AGR dues.

TRAI has a wide range of jurisdiction over Telecoms. Keep a track on all such news.

Why such a recommendation?

• TRAI noted that while the STBs deployed in the cable TV networks are non-interoperable, those by DTH players complied with licence conditions to support common interface module based interoperability.
• However, in practice, even in the DTH segment the STBs are not readily interoperable.
• The lack of interoperability of set-top boxes between different service providers deprives the customer of the freedom to change her/his service provider.
• It also creates a hindrance to technological innovation, improvement in service quality, and the overall sector growth.

About TRAI

• The TRAI is a statutory body set up under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It is the regulator of the telecommunications and its tariffs in India.
• The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
• TRAI regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, interconnections, quality of service, DTH services and mobile number portability.

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