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Pointing out that TV and radio broadcasting has been included for the first time
in the review process, the regulator today said in a statement it plans to set
up a system of data collection from service providers, government agencies and
also third party sources like Tam for general dissemination. However, Trai has
clarified such information would be given out in a manner that would not only
educate stakeholders, consumers and research agencies, but also “ensure confidentiality
of commercially sensitive information.” Though the data collated by Trai
for the July-September quarter might not be totally exclusive, it does highlight
some trends. For example, viewing pattern in Chennai is heavily loaded in favour
of free-to-air (FTA) channels, whereas pay channels have higher viewership in
other metros. "The scope of coverage could be expanded depending upon
the need and response of the service providers,” Trai said. The report, available
on the regulator’s site, contains three sections under cable TV, DTH and radio
services. Information provided ranges from the general (UP and Maharashtra
show huge gap between all-TV reach and cable; Hindi speaking states have more
than 10 per cent B&W TV sets) to specific facts like sports viewership is
around six per cent in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, while in Chennai, a CAS-notified
metro, it has negligible presence. According to Trai, internet subscriber
base has crossed the Broadband Policy 2004 target of six million three months
before the target date by reaching 6.1 million during the quarter ending September
2005 in comparison to 5.9 million at the end of quarter ending June 2005. Out
of 6.1 million, share of government-controlled operators was 3.5 million. The
growth of this segment during the year was about 15 per cent. The number
of broadband subscribers (with a download speed of 256 Kbps or more) increased
from 396,000 to slightly over 600,000 during the July-September quarter, registering
a growth of about 54 per cent. But this growth, Trai has pointed out, is
not enough to meet the policy target of three million subscribers by 2005. Meanwhile,
the gross subscriber base of fixed and mobile services together reached 113.07
million at the end of September 2005 from 104.22 million in June 2005, showing
an increase of around 8.49 per cent during the quarter. The tele-density
at the end of quarter under review has reached 10.36 as compared to 9.61 at the
end of QE June 2005. The effective per minute charge for a mobile local
call has reduced from Rs 1.90 (Rs 45 = $1) in September 2004 to Rs. 1.20 in September
2005, thus registering a decline of 37 per cent over the year. | 