(22 December 2005 8:45 am)

MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today announced that its order imposing a four per cent cable TV price hike will not come into force until the the cable watchdog Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) holds the next hearing relating to this on 8 February 2006.

Earlier Trai had said that the hike would be enforced from 1 January 2006. Following this, the Pune-based consumer forum Grahak Hitvardhini Sarvajanik Sanstha had filed an appeal to the Tdsat against it.. Tdsat responded by issuing an interim stay on Trai's diktat.

Trai today therefore issued a release saying that its order would lie in limbo until the hearing against it is disposed of by Tdsat.

Cable TV analysts are keenly watching the developments in this sector as even Star India has gone to court against the Trai and its hike.

The case is being heard by justice Santosh Hegde.

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TDSAT stays 4 per cent hike in cable rates