Jan 05: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI has submitted a new recommendation to the government over the Internet Protocol Television, IPTV that besides telecom companies, cable operators and Internet Service Providers, ISPs should make avail the service to the customers without getting a new license or getting registration afresh.
IPTV is a new method of delivering and viewing television programmes using an IP network and high-speed broadband technology.
TRAI said in its recommendations that telecom service providers with license to provide triple play services and ISPs and whose net worth is more than Rs.100 crore can provide IPTV service without any further registration.
It further said that cable TV operators need not to get any new license to provide IPTV services, but they can register under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995. Clarifying its suggestion, TRAI further said IPTV operators would be required to register as cable operators to provide services in the country.
According to the Cable Television Network Act, no person shall operate a cable television network unless he is registered as a cable operator under this Act.
If any telecom service provider provides IPTV after its registration as a cable operator, its service will be considered under telecom license. And, they shall have to pay the license fee on IPTV revenue also as applicable to its telecom license.
There will be no change in Foreign Direct Investment, FDI cap for launching IPTV services. It will remain same as per the existing structure, which implies that telecom and IPS will have an added advantage as cap for these sectors 74% in comparison to the cable operators, whose share is 49%. However, TRAI has recommended that FDI be raised for cable operators to 74%.
The telecom companies while providing TV channels through IPTV shall transmit only such channels for which broadcasters have received up-linking and down-linking permission from Government of India. Means there shall be no change in provision of providing TV channels.
“In such cases, the responsibility to ensure that content is in accordance with the extant laws, rules, regulations etc shall be that of the broadcaster and telecom licensee will not be held responsible,� TRAI added.
The Information and Broadcasting, I&B and Information Technology, IT ministries will regulate the content. The Department of Telecommunication, DoT may seek guidance of the respective ministries to ascertain the penalties to maintain uniformity. However, only news channels that have been approved by the I&B ministry will be telecast by the telecom service provider availing IPTV service.
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