MIB reiterates IPTV self declaration rules, warns against agents

MUMBAI: Before the screens light up, the paperwork must too and the government is reminding players not to outsource the basics. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a fresh advisory to IPTV service providers, reiterating the mandatory process for filing self-declarations before launching services and cautioning against the use of unauthorised intermediaries.

The advisory, dated April 22, 2026, anchors its guidance in the IPTV policy framework issued on September 8, 2008. Under these rules, all telecom licensees and cable operators including MSOs and LCOs are required to submit a self-certified declaration prior to commencing IPTV operations.

The process, the ministry emphasised, is deliberately simple. Providers must file the declaration in a prescribed format with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Department of Telecommunications, and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. The form captures basic operational details such as licence or registration information, proposed start date, service area, and network infrastructure.

Importantly, the ministry underscored that the filing requires no third-party assistance and carries no fee effectively shutting the door on consultants or agents claiming to “fast-track” approvals.

In a pointed warning, the advisory clarified that no external entity has any role in processing IPTV self-declarations and cannot expedite submissions. Stakeholders have been advised to engage only with designated government officials and remain cautious of unauthorised facilitators.

For queries, operators have been directed to reach out through the ministry’s official communication channels. The advisory was issued by Shiv Ram Meena, Under Secretary to the Government of India.

In a sector where compliance can often feel layered, the message is straightforward: file it yourself, file it right, and don’t pay for what’s meant to be free.