MCOF announces to launch virtual cable network for LMO at ground

The Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation (MCOF) on 1st May has inked an agreement with Mumbai based multi-system operators (MSO) Bhawani Rajesh Cable & Digitech Service to bring cable virtual network operation (CVNO) for the last mile operators (LMOs).

CVNO will be formally inaugurated on 2 May, which coincides with the opening day of MCOF’s conference for LMOs called the National Conclave on Broadband and Cable (NCBC-2014).

The newly-minted set-up will borrow its infrastructure from BR Cable Network while operations will be handled by MCOF. "This is a way to re-empower the last mile owners.  It is they who will manage the subscribers. They will have full ownership of the customers, unlike what is happening in the current scenario, where the MSO claims ownership of the customers.  Also, the LMOs will have limited access to the SMS, where they can feed all details about the customer and bill the subscriber," explains Prabhoo MCOF president.

Barely two years old, MCOF has floated a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) named Synergy Cable Operators Pvt Ltd (SCOPE) to launch CVNO for LMOs. 

As per the broad terms of the deal, SCOPE would be allocated a separate product code on the conditional access system (CAS) at the headend for operational convenience, packaging freedom and effective partitioning of BR’s direct subscribers and SCOPE subscribers. 

SCOPE would maintain the customer database on an independent subscriber management system (SMS) which would be integrated with the CAS at the headend. The SMS would be mirrored at BR for broadcaster and regulatory audit. 

BR Cable would be entitled to reimbursement for content at actuals and a signal processing fee on the basis of per subscriber, per channel. Carriage fees, if any, with respect to the expanded universe falling under SCOPE, would be shared between BR and SCOPE. 

LMOS would invest in the STBs irrespective of whether the customers pay for the same or not, said  Prabhoo. The SD and HD STBs will be provided for Rs 1,100 and 1,500 respectively. 

“We will offer the STBs at a ‘pass-through transfer price’ without loading by either MSO or LMO. This is expected to ease the burden on the customer since our MRPs for SD and HD boxes are around Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,500 respectively,” he added.
Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/4756-mcof-announces-to-launch-virtual-cable-network-for-lmo-at-ground.html

Source: http://cablequest.org/news/cable-news/item/4756-mcof-announces-to-launch-virtual-cable-network-for-lmo-at-ground.html