Dish TV launches Conditional Access Module device

NEW DELHI: DTH major Dish TV on Monday launched its Conditional Access Module (CAM) device, which allows consumers with set-top boxes of other DTH service providers to switch to Dish TV's feed of television channels.

The device, being launched in select key markets, would be priced at Rs 990 and is bundled with an annual subscription of 95 channels and services, Dish TV said in a statement.

"TRAI mandates interoperability in the DTH licencing norms and it is obligatory for all operators to offer interoperable set top boxes ... We are proud to launch the country's first CAM device that will be a momentous landmark in the Indian DTH chapter," Dish TV Managing Director Jawahar Goel said.

According to Trai's regulations, all set-top boxes sold by DTH service providers should be CAM-compliant.

The cost of a new DTH connection starts at about Rs 1,500 which includes a set top box, dish antenna and content subscription at times.

The DTH industry has been contending the issue of interoperability as different DTH service providers use different broadcast technology formats like MPEG2 and MPEG4.

'Dish Freedom', the CAM device, has to be inserted into the card port on all BIS-compliant set top boxes with a CI slot (as is mandated by TRAI).

The device works on all kinds of DTH platforms, including MPEG2 and MPEG4, it added.

"About 20 per cent of the 33 million DTH subscribers in the country are estimated to be inactive. This is a substantial dormant market segment that we will target as our customer base for 'Dish Freedom'," Dish TV COO Salil Kapoor said.

Being the only player offering CAM services, Dish TV aim to add the inactive base in metros and smaller cities to its over 11 million strong family, he added.

India has over 35 million DTH users, of which about 3-5 million are inactive, according to industry experts.

There are currently seven DTH players -- Dish TV, Tata Sky, Sun Direct, DD Direct, Videocon D2H, Airtel digital and , Reliance digital TV.