(a) Whether the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a tariff order to prescribe a framework for commercial inter-operability of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) offered by the Direct-to–Home (DTH) operators to their subscribers and give a fillip to fair competition amongst DTH operators, discourage monopolistic practices and empower the subscriber with greater choice; and
(b) If so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Govt, in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE; THE MINISTER OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)
(a) and (b) : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in its recommendation on “Issues relating to New DTH Licenses” dated 23.07.2014 has inter-alia recommended that the DTH license conditions should mandate the licensee to comply with the tariff order/scheme prescribed by TRAI for commercial interoperability. Moreover, in order to ensure effective commercial interoperability, TRAI notified on 01 April 2015, a Tariff Order (TO), namely the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable ) Services (Seventh) (the Direct to Home Services) Tariff order, 2015 (2 of 2015). The said TO prescribes a framework for commercial interoperability of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) offered by the Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators to their subscribers. With regard to interoperability of DTH STBs, the interests of consumers can largely be protected through the provisions of Commercial interoperability of CPEs. Commercial interoperability provides for an exit option to a DTH subscriber in case he wishes to change the operator/platform and avail the services from another DTH operator/platform for any reason. Details are available on TRAI website at www.trai.gov.in.