The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has asked the telecom and broadcasting regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to look into the issue of monopoly in the cable television sector, keeping in mind the ongoing digitisation process.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, “I have asked the Ministry to make a reference to TRAI on how we can deal with the problem of monopoly in the sector which is the anti thesis of choice.” He added that this was being done as the country goes forth into digitisation by 2014.

Asked if this step was being taken keeping in mind the domination of Multi System Operators in certain States, he said, “I think the issue is very germane. When you are trying to create a transparent architecture which empowers the consumer, I think in the process of empowerment, it is also essential that they need to have a wider choice in terms of operators that they could choose from.”

He added that the ministry has asked TRAI to look at the issue of monopoly in a holistic manner and will look at a whole gamut of issues relating to broadcasting and distribution. TRAI is already looking at consultations with stakeholders on the cross ownership in the media sector.

He also said that the Government is requesting all State Governments for their co-operation for the second phase of digitisation which will see 38 cities go digital by March 2013.

According to the Ministry data, 74.98 lakh cable set-top boxes have been installed in the four cities in the first phase of digitisation. About 23.44 lakh set-top boxes were installed in Mumbai, 30.31 lakh in Delhi, 18.57 lakh in Kolkata and 2.66 lakh in Chennai.

Nearly 96 per cent of the households in the four cities have been digitised and with the addition of DTH subscribers about 97 per cent households were digitised. So far most of the set-top boxes are imported but the Ministry is taking steps to encourage domestic manufacturing of set-top boxes.

Meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in

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