TRAI’s recommendation: there should be no need for new set-top-box if DTH operator is changed

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Saturday recommended that all DTH and cable set-top-boxes (STBs) offered to customers should have interoperability support. That is, such set-top-boxes should be made mandatory that can be run with everyone. TRAI has recommended this to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. This information was given by the news agency PTI.

Currently, customers have to change the set-top-box when they change the DTH network. If TRAI’s suggestion is implemented then customers will not have to buy a new set-top-box if they change the operator. TRAI has recommended to the Ministry to make it mandatory to change the operator without changing the set-top-box and make necessary provisions for it.

Apart from this, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has also advocated the need for a uniform USB port interface for all television sets. TRAI has suggested that technical interoperability should be supported in all set-top-boxes in India. That is, all STBs given to customers should be interoperable.

TRAI said that for this the Ministry of Information Broadcasting should form a Coordination Committee comprising representatives from Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, TRAI, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) members and TV manufacturers. TRAI has said that this committee can work to implement the revised set-top-box standards for both DTH and cable TV segments.

TRAI said that the absence of an operator to change without changing the set-top-box violates the freedom of customers to choose their preferred service provider. Along with this, technological innovation, improvement in service quality and it also has an impact on the growth of the sector.