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Interconnect agreements will have to be registered with Trai
MUMBAI: Transparency, a dirty word in the cable TV industry, is what the Telecom and Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is pressing for. Broadcasters and multi-service operators (MSOs) will have to register with the Authority their interconnect agreements, declaring information that they were so protectively guarded about.
The new Register of Interconnect Regulations for the Broadcasting and Cable Services, issued by Trai today (31 December), says broadcasters will have to file all their interconnect agreements with all the distributors – cable operators, MSOs, direct-to-home (DTH) and Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operators. This regulation shall come into effect from the date of its publication in the official Gazette.
“All broadcasters are required to register with the Authority interconnect agreements entered into by them as against the provisions in the existing regulations which require the filing of interconnect agreements to which not only the Broadcasters but also multi service operator are parties.”
The changed provision is in line with TRAI’s recommendation stating that the agreements entered into by MSO and local cable operator (LCO) shall be registered with the authorised officer and agreements entered into between broadcasters, MSOs, DTH operators and HITS operator shall be filed with the Authority.
Amendments and modifications to the agreements as well as new agreements pertaining to a particular quarter need to be filed within one month of the end of the respective quarter, according to the Trai.
Interconnect agreements are to be filed in two parts – one containing the standard affiliation agreement /service contract and the other detailing in tabular form individual agreements. This will cover among other things contracting parties, service area and date of entering into contract.
The “Register of Interconnect Agreement Regulation 1999 (2 of 1999), dated 1 September 1999, was amended on 11 February 2004 to include the Broadcasting and Cable services. According to this, the broadcasters including their authorised distribution agencies and MSOs are required to register with the Authority any interconnect agreement to which they were parties.
But while processing cases of registration, the regulator found that broadcasters and MSOs were using a standard form of agreements for a particular type of arrangement entered into with a group of subscribers. Besides, there would be too many agreements if the MSOs and broadcasters were to submit agreements individually. Also, most of the MSOs and broadcasters wanted the information furnished (particularly on the number of subscribers, subscription rate, number and details of channels, and discounts schemes) to be kept confidential as they had commercial terms. This is why the Trai felt that the information furnished would not cater to the specific needs of Broadcasting & Cable Services.
“It is necessary to formulate a separate Register of Interconnect Agreements Regulations for Broadcasting and Cable Services instead of amending the existing principal regulations of 1999,” the Trai says.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
