TRAI’s New Tariff Regulations kick in for Feb 1st

TRAI’s New Tariff Regulations kick in for Feb 1^st

1. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) – the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India- has put forward a new tariff and regulatory framework for Direct-to-Home (DTH) and cable services. The new framework aims to lower the cost of TV viewing for consumers.
2. According to the new regulations, a) Customer have to pay fixed Network Capacity Fee for 100 standard definition (SD) channels, b) Service providers can waive off or offer discounts on NCF for the additional DTH connections, c) Service providers have to provide an electronic programme guide with transparent display of rates d) Customers can opt for channels via an a la carte list and make customized packages, d) Customers need to pay only for channels they subscribe for.
3. A recent Crisil report has claimed that costs of TV viewing may rise by 25% under the new regulatory regime.