TRAI recommends making interoperability of set top boxes mandatory

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Saturday recommended that all DTH and cable Set-Top-Boxes(STBs) provided to the customers must support interoperability.

The TRAI suggested that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) include the required clause in-laws to make it mandatory.

While asking the I& B Ministry to set up a committee to implement the recommendations, the TRAI said DTH operators and cable operators ( Multi-Service Operators) should be given six months time to adopt interoperable set-top boxes.

At present the STBs are not interoperable. If a television viewer wants to change the cable operators or DTH service providers, he has to purchase a new set-top box. However, interoperable set-top boxes will allow consumers to change their DTH operator without buying a new set-top box.

The TRAI also recommended the mandatory provisioning of USB port-based common interface for all digital television sets in India.

The lack of interoperability of STBs between different service providers not only deprives the customer of the freedom to change his or her service provider but also creates a hindrance to technological innovation, improvement in service quality, and the overall sector growth, the TRAI said.

It said DTH and MSO players (Cable tv) should be given a time for six months to adopt “DVB CI+ 2.0 standards (with USB CAM)” in line with the ETSI standards (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).

Such specifications must mandate TV manufacturers to provide all-digital television sets with at least one open interface port based on DVB CI Plus 2.0 standards permitting simple connection of USB CAM to allow reception of television signals, the TRAI said.

They must also provide the digital television sets with built-in tuners to enable reception of television content through both satellite and cable platforms, it said.