I&B Ministry
CAN welcomes basic tier pricing post-CAS, cautions government to stay on alert on implementation
MUMBAI:It’s once again the turn of the Consumer Action Network (CAN) to air its views on conditional access. CAN president Ahmed M Abdi has welcomed the proposal before the government (pushed by the broadcasters) to fix the price of free-to-air television channels at Rs 40 per household per month.
Says Abdi in a press release: “This is a price affordable by poorest of the poor sections of our society and the government should not come under pressure of cable operators who want to increase this price to Rs 250(?) for the free to air bouquet. Cable operators are free to make profits from the generation of revenue from pay channels, which would be subscribed to by the affordable section of the society, and it is duty of the Govt. to come to rescue of the general public comprising of poor section of the society having limited avenues for entertainment.”
Abdi has also cautioned the government to keep a close watch on cable ops, as they would try and arm twist cable TV viewers into subscribing to pay TV services by depriving them of basic free to air services if they don’t take up pay TV services. “If any such cases come to light, the government should act tough by labelling it a cognizable and non-bailable offence authorising the local police to initiate action as per law,” he says. “It is essential that a regulatory body be constituted and be empowered to look into the problems that consumers face and also take timely decisions.”
I&B Ministry
Digital radio, D2M tech set to reshape broadcasting and public messaging
Govt pushes next-gen delivery while TRAI tightens grip on spam ecosystem
NEW DELHI: India’s broadcasting and telecom landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant upgrade, with digital radio and Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technologies emerging as powerful tools for mass communication, while regulators step up efforts to tackle spam calls.
According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, digital radio and D2M are poised to transform how content reaches audiences by making more efficient use of spectrum. In simple terms, multiple channels can now be delivered over a single frequency, opening the door to a wider range of free-to-air content.
D2M technology takes this a step further by enabling video, audio and data to be broadcast directly to mobile handsets without relying on SIM cards or mobile data. The result is a resilient and cost-effective data pipe that can deliver everything from entertainment and education to critical emergency alerts, even in low-connectivity scenarios.
At the same time, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is tightening its grip on unsolicited commercial communication, better known as spam calls. The regulator has deployed a distributed ledger technology platform to bring transparency and accountability into the system.
Through this blockchain-based setup, consumers can register their preferences on receiving promotional messages, while businesses and telemarketers must also sign up and operate within defined rules. The platform also includes a complaint mechanism that allows users to report spam, with complaints shared across telecom operators for coordinated action.
The government’s broader push is being supported by infrastructure upgrades under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development scheme. Implemented through Prasar Bharati, the initiative focuses on modernising networks such as Akashvani and Doordarshan, including digitisation and adoption of next-generation broadcast equipment.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting minister of state for information and broadcasting L. Murugan said these steps are part of a larger effort to promote emerging technologies and strengthen the country’s broadcasting backbone. The response came to a query raised by member of Parliament Rao Rajendra Singh.
Together, these developments point to a dual-track strategy: expanding access to reliable, low-cost content while cleaning up the communication ecosystem. As digital pipes get smarter and spam filters sharper, India’s airwaves may soon feel a lot less noisy and far more useful.
