India begins public consultation on Cable TV digitalization

Shift from analog technology now a step closer with stakeholder dialogue.

Once finished, digitalization will boost broadcasters, MSOs and cable operators and support service to India's fast-growing TV market now pegged at nearly 150 million households.

This is according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority in India (TRAI), which has submitted a consultation paper that outlines the concerns of stakeholders. Comments will be open until January 23 2012,

Once consultation is finished, it is believed full digitalization can move on to implementation stage.

India's ambitious digitalization plan will convert the current non-addressable cable TV system to a digital addressable system. TRAI believes that moving away from an analog system will boost the broadcasting industry.

"A large part of the cable and satellite TV remains analog in nature. This has resulted in the full potential of the sector not being realised besides imposing certain stress on all the three segments viz. Broadcasters, MSOs and Cable Operators. It is also resulting in a substantial loss to the Government revenues," TRAI said.