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MSOs facing problems in signing interconnect deals with b’casters to inform TRAI by 24 August
NEW DELHI: With just over four months left for implementation of Phase III of the Digital Addressable System (DAS) for cable operators, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has asked multi-system operators and broadcasters to expedite signing of inter-connect agreements.
Apart from pointing out that it had placed on its website a standardized form for this, TRAI stressed that the rules provide that an agreement has to be signed by registered MSOs with broadcasters within 60 days of receiving a request.
TRAI said it had notified a comprehensive regulatory framework encompassing interconnection, quality of service, consumer complaint redressal regulation and tariff orders for implementation of DAS.
The MSOs who have been granted registration for providing cable TV services through DAS are required to enter into interconnection agreements with pay TV broadcasters for re-transmission of pay TV channels to subscribers.
The Regulatory framework for DAS provides that every broadcaster shall provide the signals of TV channels to an MSO in accordance with its reference interconnect offer or as may be mutually agreed, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the request.
The Authority said that in case the request for providing signals of TV channels is not agreed to, the reasons for such refusal to provide signals will be conveyed to the person making a request within 60 days from the date of request.
The MSOs who have approached pay TV broadcasters for providing signals of TV channels in accordance with the provisions of the interconnection regulations but have not been able to enter into interconnection agreements even after the passage of 60 days from the date of making request and also not received the reasons for not entering into interconnection agreement from the broadcaster may write to TRAI by 24 August through e-mail at das@trai.gov.in for initiating action in such cases according to the TRAI Act.
As the cutoff date for Phase-III areas – 31 December – is fast approaching, the registered MSOs were advised by TRAI to make a written request to the broadcasters of pay channels for provisioning of the signals of TV channels as per their business requirement, so that they get signals of pay TV channels well before the cutoff date.
The Authority said it had taken a number of initiatives to facilitate timely signing of interconnection agreements between broadcasters and MSOs. The Authority and broadcasters have uploaded standardised application form and contact details on their respective websites. For the convenience of the stakeholders, the details have also been uploaded on TRAI website.
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.
