The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Friday said that 85 per cent of the digitisation target has been achieved in the 38 cities under the second phase of digitisation.

The Ministry said out of the estimated 160 lakh set top boxes (STBs) that needed to be installed for complete digitisation across these cities, nearly 136 lakh STBs have already been deployed. While Multi System Operators have installed 91.5 lakh set-top boxes, DTH operators have installed about 44.5 lakh STBs.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari who has been monitoring the progress, had earlier said that the process was being implemented in a seamless, sustained yet sensitive manner. He added that Multi System Operators have been advised to exercise utmost caution so that least amount of inconvenience is caused to subscribers.

“In three States, – Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat – stay orders have been given by High Courts on the switch off of the analog signals till further orders. The process of digitisation, however, in other cities is in full swing. MSOs have reported that there is huge demand for STBs which is being met by increased supply of STBs by air lifting them,” the Ministry said in a statement.

It also said that as per nodal officers, analog signals have been completely switched off in five States of Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Haryana and Chandigarh. The Ministry estimates that in March alone, 40 lakh STBs have been installed in Phase 2 cities.

Meanwhile, TRAI has been convening meetings of Broadcasters, MSO and Cable Operators to sort out issues pertaining to agreements and service conditions.

The Ministry had earlier carried out a media campaign about Cable TV digitisation, across TV, Radio, Mobile phones and Print Medium etc, to create awareness among people about the deadline, benefits of digitisation and the need for installing STBs.

meenakshi.v@thehindu.co.in

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