Trai Looks to IIT, IISc Expertise to Make STBs Interoperable

Trai chairman R S Sharma Wednesday said that with the interest of the consumers in mind, interoperability of STBs has been high on the regulator's agenda for long, but technological factors have impeded progress in this regard.

Interoperability refers to a situation where STBs of different cable or DTH operator become inter-useable and a consumer is not forced to spend on buying a new one set-top box everytime he or she decides to change the service provider.

Sharma said that many people feel that it is not possible to have a common STB because of security reasons and the need of broadcasters to keep their content encrypted and safe from piracy.

"Because it is essentially a technology issue, we have brought on board professors from IITs and other institutions to look at it from a technology perspective," Sharma said adding that C-DoT is the technology partner in this venture.

Trai officials said that a panel of 12 experts from institutions like IIT Mumbai, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore is looking at this issue.

"We are on a speed on this issue and we are having regular updates," Sharma said.

Trai officials said while a common STB for cable services may be a bit easier as shown by lab tests, but another challenge is bringing STBs which are interoperable between cable as well DTH operators.

Another major initiative, for which Trai has initiated a consultation process in the broadcasting sector is ensuring that the broadcasters share infrastructure.

Sharma, said that "learning from the Telecom sector" where competitors also share towers, it is being examined if such a practice can be instilled in the broadcasting sector.

Referring to sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters, Trai officials said different broadcasters are using different satellite system to carry the same channels.

"The idea is whether there is a need to have a different head-end, or different optical fibre network or different satellite system and if we can combine, are we not able to reduce the cost of operations," a Trai official said.

The official said that while broadcasters have been initially "closed" to this idea, but they were positive that the idea may yield results as seen from the example in the telecom sector.

Trai official said that are some licensing conditions which don't allow sharing of infrastructure. After consultations, the regulator would work to see that a proper framework can be provided which allows sharing of infrastructure by broadcasters.

Trai is also pushing for provision of broadband services through the cable sector, officials added. The regulator is also working to create guidelines for audience measurement for radio and guidelines, officials said.