Trai picks DoT to supervise IPTV services

 

            The telecom regulator Trai has just disclosed that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) would be the nodal agency to supervise IPTV services. This decision was taken disregarding the rule made by the cable industry that new media platform IPTV must be regulated by the 1995 Cable TV Act, with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) standing in as the nodal body.

            What then is IPTV? It is a way of delivering and viewing TV programmes using an Internet Protocol network and high-speed broadband.

            According to Trai, the rules for the operational procedures of IPTV would be made by the DoT, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. This development is very significant because presently, any service that involves the transmission of television channels over any platform is controlled by the I&B ministry. In its provision paper on Internet Protocol (IP) TV, Trai said that the DoT will now look into matters related to IPTV in consultation with other ministries concerned.

            Trai also added in its paper that, "Operational procedures like time to keep a copy of the contents shown on IPTV, monitoring requirements etc can be worked out by the DoT based on feedback from the respective ministries."

            A further addition in the paper by Trai was that, "DoT may perhaps seek the guidance of the respective ministries to ascertain the penalties for the breach to maintain uniformity and shall initiate suitable action for imposing penalties for violations in a time-bound manner."

            When it comes to giving out licenses, Trai said the telecom companies having Unified Access Service Licence and cable companies registered under the Cable TV Act would not require any fresh licence. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have a net worth of Rs 100 crore have also been permitted by Trai to start these services.

            The IPTV package is interactive because of the presence of a return path i.e. consumers can interact by asking for offerings. This is where it has an upper hand when compared to cable services. It can also provide video-on-demand, time-shifted television (i.e. a show that can be watched days after being telecast) in addition to other interesting features. But when you try to overlook the arguments of the broadcasters and the cable industry, Trai has termed IPTV as a delivery platform and not a service.