The third phase of auction of licence to operate frequency modulation (FM) band is likely to be floated in the next two-three weeks.
“The request for proposal for getting the auctioneer is ready. We are awaiting comments from Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing,” Mr Rajiv Takru, Additional Secretary, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, said on the sidelines of a FICCI event “India going digital: An industry interaction with stakeholders.” The third phase expansion of FM radio stations will provide services to 227 cities, in addition to 86 cities being covered currently.
On digitalisation of cable television network, the Ministry said the implementation plan is on track. “There is no going back,” he added.
Asked if the Government is mulling subsidies for cable TV digitalisation, Mr Takru said, “The Government is not giving any subsidy of any kind from what I have gathered from the service providers is that they are putting out their services in the market with a heavy amount of subsidies built in.”
On whether there was a shortage of set-top boxes, he said these were available to meet the July deadline.
“Our estimate is that we required a total of 33 lakh set-top boxes in Delhi and out of that there are already about seven lakh that are in the CAS areas. We require about 26-27 lakh set-top boxes more,” Mr Takru said, adding that orders for nearly 28 lakh STBs were in various stages of delivery. He said there would be no analog signal in Delhi and other metros after June 30, the sunset for analogue in these areas, as per the digitalisation roadmap.
He said consumers would not have to pay increased cable bills after STBs are installed as the Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) would impose a ceiling on the maximum amount that can be charged for providing a channel.