The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a consultation paper seeking stakeholders view on policy measures required to enable sharing of infrastructure among multi-system operators (MSO), DTH players and between MSO and Headend-in-the-sky operators.

TRAI had first suggested this in May when it issued a pre-consultation paper to examine technical and commercial issues for optimum utilisation of infrastructure and identify the likely issues.

The regulator believes that infrastructure sharing will lead to reduction in capital expenditure requirements bringing down entry barriers for new players. It also believes this will help the players focus more on improving delivery of services and speedy redressal of consumer grievances. It believes it will benefit consumers with reduction in prices and fuel growth of the sector.

The consultation paper has raised various issue such as whether there is a need to enable infrastructure sharing among these multiple TV distribution platforms and which model will be preferred by the stakeholders.

It has also sought views on amendments required in the Cable TV Act, MSO registration conditions, HITS licensing guidelines and DTH licensing conditions besides other policy guidelines to enable such infrastructure sharing.

Anti-piracy mechanisms

With several players raising concerns around piracy, the regulator has also asked stakeholders to give views on anti-piracy mechanisms that need to be put in place.

It has also raised other issues such as need to ensure geographically targeted ads in the distribution networks and possible methods needed to enable this is in shared infrastructure set up. In addition, it has also asked players whether sharing infrastructure will create constraints in differentiation and personalisation for competing players.

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