New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released a Consultation Paper addressing the regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasters. This follows guidelines from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), which currently mandate that broadcasters use satellite mediums for uplinking and downlinking television channels to Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).
Advancements in technology now allow broadcasters to transmit channels terrestrially, enabling DPOs to carry these channels simultaneously and retransmit them commercially. Therefore, a regulatory framework is needed to support the use of ground-based technologies.
TRAI previously forwarded recommendations on this subject to MIB in 2014. In a recent letter dated May 22, 2024, MIB requested TRAI to reassess its recommendations, acknowledging that the context has evolved since 2014.
The Consultation Paper is now available for stakeholder feedback on TRAI’s website, with comments due by November 15, 2024, and counter-comments by November 29, 2024. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their responses electronically via the provided email addresses.
