Trai issues Tariff Orders for Supply of STBs/CPEs

MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India (TRAI) on 27 May 2013 issued two tariff orders prescribing standard tariff packages for set top boxes (STBs) for digital addressable cable TV systems (DAS) and Consumer Premises Equipments (CPEs) for Direct to Home (DTH) services. The prime objective of these tariff orders, TRAI says, is to ensure effective commercial interoperability.

The said tariff orders have been finalized after receiving responses on the draft  tariff orders for supply of STBs placed on TRAI website on 11 April 2013. These orders have been framed to make available STBs / CPEs at a reasonable price and, lucid and easy to understand, terms and conditions as well as to take care of the interests of the service providers. This would also promote healthy competition amongst the operators which would ultimately benefit all the stakeholders ofthe sector, including the consumers.The standard tariff packages for STB/CPE on rental basis are to be offered mandatorily by DTH and cable TV operators.

Standard Tariff Packages for supply of STB/ CPE to subscribers are given in the table below:-

Service	Security Deposit (Rs)	Monthly Rent(Rs) (Excluding taxes)	Refund of security deposit
DAS	400	55.66	Security Deposit would be refunded after 3 years or on surrender of STB/CPE within three years
	800	50.66
DTH	500	71.75
	1000	65.50
DAS	400	46.80	The security deposit gets adjusted over 3 years. If STB/CPE is surrendered within 3 years , the unadjusted portions of the security deposit would be refunded .Details available in Tariff Order
	800	32.93
DTH	500	60.66
	10000	43.33

 The charges which have been mandated by TRAI include the installation fee, activation fee, smart card viewing charges, and repair and maintenance for three years.

The regulator has said that, while these packages are mandatory, service providers can also make other offers to subscribers.It has also stated that these specific packages are prescribed for "plain vanilla STBs/CPEs" and not for the exotic ones with recorders and HD and 3D STBs.

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/digitization-news/item/2531-trai-issues-tariff-orders-for-supply-of-stbs-cpes.html
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/digitization-news/item/2531-trai-issues-tariff-orders-for-supply-of-stbs-cpes.html