DTH
TT Correspondent | 20 Nov 2012The Information and Broadcasting minister has asked the regulator TRAI to make certain that the monopolies in cable TV sector are dealt with sternly keeping in view the digitization process.
"I have requested the ministry to ask Trai to ensure that monopolies do not continue to subsist in the market, Manish Tewari I&B minister said.
He said that there is need to deal with the issue as monopolies are the anti-thesis of choice.
Talking to reporters he said that he had requested the ministry to make a reference to the TRAI specifically as to how the issue could be dealt with “as we go forth into digitisation between now and 2014,”
On being asked about certain players in the Multi System Organisations (MSOs) category in few states he said that it is not about a particular state and that the consumers need to have a wider choice in terms of operators that they could choose from.
The move is significant as the second phase of digitization starts involving 38 cities switching from analog to digital addressable systems by March 31, 2013.
According to a report in the first phase of digitization in for metros- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai -96% households have taken to digital set top boxes.