Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has extended the date for stakeholders' comments and counter comments on the Draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Fourth Amendment) Regulations 2022, released on 9 September.

Last month Trai released a consultation paper on proposed changes to the interconnection regulation 2017. The regulator has amended the regulation to include digital rights management (DRM) system requirements

Also read : TRAI invites stakeholder's comments on proposed amendments to the interconnection regulation 2017

The last date for receiving written comments from the stakeholders was fixed as 7 October 2022, and counter comments, if any, by 21 October 2022.

In view of this, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of written comments up to 4 November 2022. Counter comments, if any, may also be submitted by 18 November, 2022. No further requests for extensions will be considered.

The consultation paper (CP) was prepared in response to the report submitted by the Trai committee formed to investigate DRM system issues. The Trai formed a committee in response to numerous comments and suggestions from stakeholders on DRM System issues.

Trai has proposed that IPTV service providers use a closed network to retransmit linear channels to subscriber-owned set-top boxes (STBs). It was expressly stated that IPTV would not include any electronic delivery for receipt and viewing via the internet/OTT. It also stated that IPTV linear services should not be made available over the Internet or public networks.

The regulator also stated that IPTV transmission must be done in multicast mode only, just like cable TV transmission, and that unicast mode is not permitted. STBs with recording capabilities must have a copy protection system in place, and recorded content cannot be transferred to another device.