I&B Ministry
MSOs not ordering STBs, say manufacturers
MUMBAI: The former Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar had emphasised the need for bringing in indigenous Set Top Boxes (STBs) and the new administration is also keen to do the same. It was with this in mind that I&B secretary Bimal Julka held a meeting with indigenous STB manufacturers recently.
Julka said that the issue of C-Form had already been addressed by the government to ensure level playing field for the domestic manufacturers as compared to imported STBs. The meeting was to assess the readiness of the manufacturers to meet the 11 million STB requirements since they had stated that sufficient capacity had been installed.
A meeting had also been held with the Prime Minister regarding availability of conditional access system (CAS). The issue of interoperability of STBs was also being scrutinised and a task force meeting on the same had also been held.
The STB manufacturers informed that they have been in touch with operators for their requirements but their response has not been encouraging. According to them the operators are anticipating change in timeline of digitisation and a change in policy, leading to their slow uptake.
The manufacturers stated that they are prepared to go head on with the imported boxes as well as have a penal clause on penalty. Since no order was coming from operators, it was a difficult task to prepare production since time was needed to receive the components from suppliers.
Therefore, they manufacturers have requested the Ministry to facilitate a process so that MSOs look at indigenous STBs for phases III and IV of digitisation. A joint meeting between the three could be held to resolve concerns.
Julka clarified that 2015 and 2016 are the final dates for digitisation, so there needs to be no apprehension on that front. Monitoring of the digitisation programme would be scaled up in accordance with the implementation strategy being set in the Ministry.
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.
