Trai rings in changes to cable TV Act for IPTV

NEW DELHI: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has initiated a process to make changes in the telecom licences and the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, ’95 in order to facilitate IPTV in the country. The existing Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, ’95 has no provision for IPTV.

“We want to facilitate the growth of IPTV in the country,” said Nirpendra Misra, chairman, Trai. Telecom operators use IPTV to provide TV to their subscribers.

In IPTV, internet protocol (IP) is the basic technology, which allows operators to send TV signals through telecom networks.Government-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) is likely to launch IPTV services within a couple of months.

Some private operators, including Bharti, is also planning to launch IPTV services.In a consultation paper, Trai, on Tuesday released proposed amendments in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, ’95 and the existing telecom licences. Trai has invited comments from all the stakeholders by June 23 on its proposed amendments.