Interoperable set top boxes coming: TRAI

Television viewers can switch their cable or DTH operators without changing their set-top boxes by end of this year, TRAI Chairman R S Sharma said here.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( TRAI) has been working with DTH and cable operators on introducing interoperable set-top boxes. In the interoperable set-top boxes, if any television viewer wants to change their cable operator or DTH operator, they need not change their set-top box. Instead, just change the SIM card of their company just like mobile phones, said Sharma.


In the telecom sector, interoperability of smartphone is one of the key reasons for massive growth as subscribers do not need to purchase a new phone when they changes the service providers, he said while releasing KPMG and Indian Cellular and Electronics Association ( ICEA) report on open source operating system in smartphones in India.

The regulator has been working for quite some time, to introduce a similar system in the broadcasting sector. Interoperable set-top box will help the consumers as they need not spend money to purchase the new set top box when they change the service providers, he said.

Since the comsumers pay the money for purchase the set-top box, they should own it, he said.