Soon Change DTH Operators Without Changing Set-Top Box: TRAI To Introduce Inter-Operable Boxes By Year End

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has said that it plans to make all set-top boxes (STBs) inter-operable by the end of this year, Telecom Talk reports.

Currently, cable and DTH subscribers can only use an unique STB for each service provider as they use different technical parameters. The TRAI intends to shift to a new system where customers need not change their STB’s when they want to switch to a new service provider.

The chairman of TRAI, R S Sharma has said that the industry regulatory body is now collaborating with government agencies such as Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) and other consultants. The TRAI is trying to solve the problem of inter-operability of set-top boxes.

Speaking about the delay in the project, Sharma said, “The project is going on, though it is taking more time than what we had originally thought of. It is continuing…I will try to certainly complete this within one year.”

The TRAI will face another boulder in the form of distribution platform operators (DPOs). The DPO’s are disagreeing with the regulatory body regarding inter-operability. They believe that the move will increase the threat of piracy. TRAI may also face various technical and industrial hurdles in its run to ensure the inter-operable STB’s mainstream.

Sharma, explaining how these inter-operable STB’s work, said that the STB’s need to download software only after the purchase and not have pre-installed software. “You can buy a neutral STB from the market, and the instrument remains independent. Thereafter, whosoever is your service provider may load his software on the box”, Sharma said.