<p>The fluctuating rupee rate, which had fallen to an all-time low in the recent past, is affecting people willing to convert to the digitised cable service made mandatory in the City.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sounder Rajan, a resident of J P Nagar 7th Phase, said: “The prices of set top boxes as we know was Rs 1,000. But, the cable operator is asking us to pay Rs 1,500 now, which is not a small increase. This has happened to many people in my area. The MRP rates are not disclosed to us.”<br /><br />He is not complaining alone. Vijayalakshmi N, a resident of Lakshmipuram in Ulsoor, says: “They charged only 1,000 till a few weeks ago. I know people who got the boxes at that rate. But today, the same thing costs us Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500.”<br /><br />However, cable operators in the area, like Venkatesh in J P Nagar 7th phase, argued that they only supply what the multi-system operators (MSOs) provide them, at whatever cost it reaches their office.<br /><br />Another resident from Indiranagar, Shobha N, has a similar complaint. She says that there was no intimation that the prices would go up. But they had gone up all of a sudden when her family decided to get the digitised cable connection, replacing the DTH (direct to home) service.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, V M Srikanta Dutt, spokesperson, Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association, said: “In the initial phase, the MSOs supplied the boxes at Rs 1,000 even when the importing cost was as high as Rs 3,500-Rs 3,800.” He said the importing cost had gone up further, given the depreciation of the rupee. This has increased the cost consumers have to pay.<br /><br />“It might go up further if the trend continues, or it might go back to the old price. But, that is not in our hands,” another local cable operator said.</p>
<p>The fluctuating rupee rate, which had fallen to an all-time low in the recent past, is affecting people willing to convert to the digitised cable service made mandatory in the City.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sounder Rajan, a resident of J P Nagar 7th Phase, said: “The prices of set top boxes as we know was Rs 1,000. But, the cable operator is asking us to pay Rs 1,500 now, which is not a small increase. This has happened to many people in my area. The MRP rates are not disclosed to us.”<br /><br />He is not complaining alone. Vijayalakshmi N, a resident of Lakshmipuram in Ulsoor, says: “They charged only 1,000 till a few weeks ago. I know people who got the boxes at that rate. But today, the same thing costs us Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500.”<br /><br />However, cable operators in the area, like Venkatesh in J P Nagar 7th phase, argued that they only supply what the multi-system operators (MSOs) provide them, at whatever cost it reaches their office.<br /><br />Another resident from Indiranagar, Shobha N, has a similar complaint. She says that there was no intimation that the prices would go up. But they had gone up all of a sudden when her family decided to get the digitised cable connection, replacing the DTH (direct to home) service.<br /><br />Speaking to Deccan Herald, V M Srikanta Dutt, spokesperson, Karnataka State Cable TV Operators’ Association, said: “In the initial phase, the MSOs supplied the boxes at Rs 1,000 even when the importing cost was as high as Rs 3,500-Rs 3,800.” He said the importing cost had gone up further, given the depreciation of the rupee. This has increased the cost consumers have to pay.<br /><br />“It might go up further if the trend continues, or it might go back to the old price. But, that is not in our hands,” another local cable operator said.</p>
