Sudhir Gupta, Secretary in TRAI has issued a framework for DTH portability. This framework is regarding to make DTH portability easier for consumers to switch operators. So this is very good news for DTH consumers who wanted to switch their DTH system.
Currently if a DTH customer wishes to move from one DTH operator to another operator, he is required to invest in the CPE of the other DTH operator, TRAI said in a statement.
The Tariff Order which has been named “Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Seventh) (Direct to Home Services) Tariff Order, 2015 (2 of 2015)” was issued to prescribe an official framework for “commercial interoperability of Customer Premises Equipment offered by DTH operators to their subscribers.”
In the new tariff order, TRAI restricts DTH operators from charging more than Rs.450 for installation and activation of CPE. There also has to be a transparent price declaration of all types of DTH CPEs.
DTH operators may offer additional schemes including bundled schemes and rental schemes.
In rental schemes, the operators can charge a specified one-time interest free refundable security deposit, installation and activation charges from the subscriber during installation or activation followed by specified monthly rental charges.
DTH operators shall cater for free maintenance and repairs of CPEs for three years after installation or activation.
Subscribers shall have an option of buy-back or refund for CPEs in all the offered schemes including bundled schemes with an exception of rental schemes.
In case of outright purchase and hire purchase schemes, DTH operators may levy visitation charges not exceeding Rs. 250 per visit after the warranty period has elapsed.
Subscribers shall have an option of buy-back or refund for CPEs in all the offered schemes including bundled schemes with an exception of rental schemes.
In rental scheme, the subscriber will get back the security deposit, it added. DTH operators may prescribe a lock-in period not exceeding six months for a subscriber to remain committed. Subscribers can surrender the CPE any time subject to levy of certain charges that have been prescribed.
DTH operators will also have to set up collection centres at every district headquarters to enable easy return of CPEs (Set-Top Box) while subscribers shall be provided with a toll-free number for registration of request for surrender of connection.
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Subscribers shall have an option of returning the CPE by paying a nominal collection charge of Rs 300 to the DTH operator or to return the CPE at the designated collection centre.
No other charges by any other name other than those specified in the order can be levied on the subscribers by DTH operators.
DTH operators shall declare all current schemes on their websites while also publishing all charges for each scheme. Subscribers will have to be given details of the scheme opted by him. Finally it states that the DTH operators will be given a time of 60 days to align their business processes for compliance with the provisions of tariff order.
