I&B Ministry
MSOs warned again not to approach middlemen or touts for licence applications
NEW DELHI: Applicants for registration as multi-system operators (MSOs) in digital addressable systems have been warned by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry not to be misled by middlemen.
Reiterating that it uses a very transparent system, the Ministry has said it has come to its notice that there a few who are approaching MSO applicants with false claims for providing MSO licences and demanding some gratifications/bribe to get the work done.
The Ministry says MSO applications with all details furnished are forwarded to Home Ministry for obtaining Security clearance and processed.
All MSO applicants have therefore been asked not to deal with such unauthorised/mischievous persons.
The Ministry organises Open House Meetings, every Tuesday at 11.00 am in Room No.662, A Wing in Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi. For any doubt or enquiry about status of their applications, MSOs may participate/ attend the Open House Meeting by sending an email at obpandl@qmail.com or at das.mib@gmail.com.
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.
