Cable TV
Broadband plan to clear way for telcos’ entry into cable?
NEW DELHI: A comprehensive broadband policy, which is scheduled to be introduced in the Parliament during this session, but is still undergoing changes, controversially proposes that telecom companies/service providers could use cable networks as their franchisees to provide all types of services.
It is not known whether the department of telecommunication would include this suggestion in the policy paper that is finally tabled in Parliament by IT and telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran.
The policy paper also rejects a suggestion by the telecom and broadcast and cable regulator that the annual licence fee of a KU-band DTH service be clipped by at least two per cent.
Contacted by indiantelevision.com yesterday, Maran, who’s away to Chennai, refused to confirm or deny anything saying, “Once I am in Delhi, we could possibly talk on the issue (broadband policy).”
The particular clause on telecom companies vis-Ã -vis cable networks has the potential of causing an upheaval in the telecom and cable industry as it might give telecom companies instant access to over 45 million cable homes, while ruling out a vice-versa-type of situation.
Hypothetically speaking, this could mean that if an alliance happens, Reliance’s proposed broadband network can use the infrastructure of a Siti Cable to tap into cable homes. It could also mean that a Bharti or a Hutch (telecom service providers) could tie-up with a Hathway or INCablenet for providing all types of services under an umbrella structure when a unified licensing regime comes about.
The policy paper also rejects an open sky policy for V-Sat (very small aperture terminal) and DTH services, but suggests that a DTH service provider could give Internet services once it has an ISP (Internet service provider) license and provide a two-way path once it obtains a V-Sat license.
Contrary to expectations, no reduction in the spectrum charges have been suggested, but there is a proposal to delicence frequencies between 2.4 and 2.48 Ghz, which could be used for MMDS (multi-point multi-distribution services). Frequencies above 5 Ghz, used for wireless transmission purposes also, could be delicenced at a later stage.
There are some other suggestions too that are likely to benefit V-Sat operators.
The focus of the paper, which is more of a vision statement than a policy guideline, lays emphasis on DSL and says that state-controlled Bharat Sanchar Nigam and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd would promote DSL in a big way.
What is DSL? When you connect to the Internet, you might connect through a regular modem, through a local-area network connection in your office, through a cable modem or through a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection. DSL is a very high-speed connection that uses the same wires as a regular telephone line.
A common configuration of DSL allows downloads at speeds of up to 1.544 megabits (not megabytes) per second, and uploads at speeds of 128 kilobits per second. This arrangement is called ADSL or asymmetric digital subscriber line.
However, there is unanimity on the broadband subscriber target, which has been pegged at 3 million by 2005, 9 million by 2007 and 20 million by 2010.
Cable TV
Hathway Cable appoints Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as CEO
Leadership change comes as cable TV faces shrinking subscriber base and modest earnings pressure
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has tapped industry veteran Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as chief executive officer, marking a leadership pivot at a time when India’s cable television business is under mounting strain.
Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, who is set to retire in August after a long innings with the company. Panesar, chief executive since 2023, has held multiple leadership roles at Hathway, including his latest stint beginning in 2022.
Kapoor brings more than three decades of experience in media and entertainment. He most recently led distribution at The Walt Disney Company’s Star India business, now part of JioStar. His career spans television distribution and affiliate partnerships, with stints at Sony Pictures Networks India, Discovery Communications and Zee Entertainment.
Panesar, with over three decades in the industry, has worked across strategic planning, distribution and business development in media, broadcasting and manufacturing. His past associations include ESPN Star Sports, Star India, Apollo Tyres and JK Industries.
The transition lands as the cable sector grapples with structural disruption. Traditional operators are losing ground to streaming platforms, while telecom and broadband players tighten the squeeze with bundled offerings.
An EY report estimates India’s pay-TV base could shrink by a further 30 to 40 million households by 2030, taking the total down to 71 to 81 million. The slide follows a loss of nearly 40 million homes between 2018 and 2024, a contraction that has already wiped out more than 37,000 jobs in the local cable operator ecosystem.
Hathway’s numbers reflect the strain. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 93 crore for FY25, down from Rs 99 crore a year earlier. Revenue inched up to Rs 2,040 crore from Rs 1,981 crore. As of December 2025, it had about 4.7 million cable TV subscribers and roughly 1.02 million broadband users.
Kapoor steps in with a familiar brief but a shrinking playbook. In a market where viewers are cutting cords faster than companies can reinvent them, the new chief executive inherits a business fighting to stay plugged in.
