(29 March 2008 7:00 pm)

NEW DELHI: The MSO (multi-system operator) Alliance has requested the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to issue notification for Cas (conditional access system) extension latest by 30 April, with the statutory 180-day sunset clause. This would mean Cas would be operational from 1 November in the remaining areas of the three metros - Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

While 1 November would close the first phase of extension in the three metros, the second phase would be completed by February 2009.

The MSOA says that while implementation of Cas in the remaining areas of the metros be done in two phases, the notification for both the phases should be made simultaneously.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) and the MSOA have earlier agreed that the notifications for both the phases have to be simultaneous so that the market is ready and investment levels in terms of purchase of set-top boxes (STBs) can be worked out.

The MSOA letter, a copy of which is with indiantelevision.com, says: "This is also intrinsically linked with digital roll out in 55 cities as TRAI has recommended that there should be a gap of at least six months between the earliest effective date notified for the identified 55 cities and the mandated date for rollout of the last phase for these three cities."

The MSOA says also that the process of authorising any new MSO or LCO for Cas areas should be completed by 30 June for Phase II and 30 September for the last phase.

Since the notification for both the phases would be simultaneous, MSOA says that the signing of agreements between all stakeholders (broadcasters, MSOs and LCOs) for the remaining parts of metros should be concluded within 12 weeks of that notification.

If this does not happen, MSOA suggests that the standard clauses of the August 2006 notification - as amended - should apply.

On their own part, MSOs would have to declare their estimation and readiness for Phase II by 30 June and for Phase III by 31 July.

Additional STBs with MSOs needed for the full extension should be there by 30 September for Phase II and 30 November for the final phase in the metros.

It may be recalled that one of the conditions for announcing Cas extension, set forth by the MIB, was the readiness of MSOs, because in the first phase starting 1 January 2007, it was found that MSOs did not have adequate number of STBs.

The MSOA has now set out to undertake that this will not be repeated in the two subsequent phases.

By 30 July, the MSOA expects to iron out and fine tune any modification of tariffs, interconnect regulations and QoS issues.

The MSOA accepts that there has to be a transition period of migrating from analogue to digital, and says that for Phase-II it should be between 1 October and 30 November, "for dual illumination (i.e. re transmission of pay channels in both encrypted and unencrypted mode) and thereafter 30 days for phase wise switch off".

For Phase-III, it recommends 1 December 2008 to 31 January 2009 for dual illumination, and thereafter 30 days for phase wise switch off.

Interestingly, while MSOA has undertaken to send a detailed note to Trai on QoS issues, it says on the awareness campaign front that the government should ask the broadcasters to run informative scrolls on Cas in the prime pay channels during prime time, something that could become the next bone of contention between the two warring segments of the industry.

MSOA says that the government should ask the broadcasters to do this "as a part of their responsibility towards spreading awareness for digital delivery through Cas".

Another suggestion likely to fuel controversy is the MSOA has suggested that billing should be done through them and the onward distribution too should be by them.

As of now, a billing problem remains as the Trai has not removed the lack of clarity of who issues bills to Cas subscribers, and in many places, both MSOs and LCOs send bills, which is against the present regulation.

MSOA had asked Trai to issue a clarification, as the sector regulator seems to have suggested that MSOs send bills for pay channels and LCOs for FTAs, which too is against the regulation, and this clarification needs to be in place, MSOA sources told indiantelevision.com.

As for digitalisation of 55 other 'identified cities', MSOA has suggested that the process starts from August 2009 (Phase I - 19 districts) and run through Phase II (August 2010 - 18 districts) and Phase III (August 2011 - 18 districts).

The digitalisation of these 55 cities would take Cas to 18.1 million homes across the country, as per the MSOA estimates.

One of the key issue that the MIB had demanded MSOA's clarification is piracy, and the MSOA note says: "With full city CAS, this issue will be mostly taken care of and incidence of piracy would be eliminated to a large extent.

"However, for a stricter control, we will request broadcasters to inform of any specific areas where piracy is happening, so that the STBs can be fully deactivated.

"MSOs will ensure a monitoring practice for STBs through fingerprinting mechanism for a particular channel at frequent intervals and also physical monitoring of STBs with help of broadcasters through their teams at field level, immediate communication of piracy incidents to the service provider (MSOs), Consumer Groups and Nodal Officers appointed by Trai,' the letter says.

A separate note on the issue of how to stop piracy is being prepared and would be sent to the MIB soon, the MSOA adds.