TRAI has conducted a meeting of all DTH operators and major MSOs on 11th February 2019 to assess to status of implementation of new framework and subsequently advised the operators to move subscribers who do not exercise their options to a ‘Best Fit Plan’ and extends up to 31st March 2019 for exercising the option by such Subscribers.
Based on the outcome of the meeting, the Authority noted that some subscribers were facing difficulties in selecting the channels/bouquet of their choice. In some cases, LCOs have not been able to reach out to subscriber to create awareness among them and collect the options. Many subscribers may be required to go to nearest Point of Sale (POS) for exercising their option as they did not have access to IT facility or have not comfortable in using IT system to exercise their options.
“In view of the larger public interest, the Authority directed all DPOs that those subscribers who do not exercise their options shall be migrated to a ‘Best Fit Plan’. The subscribers’ old plan shall continue till either subscriber exercise his/her option, or he/she is migrated to the ‘Best Fit Plan’. The Authority hereby, extends time up to 31st March 2019 for exercising the option by such Subscribers who have not exercised option yet. Subscribers will be free to change their ‘Best Fit Plan’ at any date and time on or before 31st July 2019 and DPOs shall convert their <Best Fit Plan’ into the desired pack (channel/Bouquet) within 72 hours from the time choice exercised by the Subscriber. It is clarified that there will be no lock-in period’ for the subscribers till 31st March 2019 who has been migrated to ‘Best Fit Plan’ by DPOs.” said the statement from TRAI.
“The ‘Best Fit Plan’ shall be designed based on Consumers’ usage pattern, language spoken and popularity of channels. It should preferably be a blended combination of various Genre, while making ‘Best Fit Plan’ for a subscriber, DPOs should ensure that payout per month of the ‘Best Fit Plan’ generally does not exceed the payout per month of existing tariff plan of the subscriber.” TRAI statement added.
During the assessment meeting, the operators informed that implementation of migration was in full swing and they stated that subscribers who have exercised their option have been migrated to new framework. They were making all efforts to reach out to remaining subscribers. They further assured that in no case anyinconvenience would be caused to any subscriber in the whole migration process.
