Puts a ceiling on installation a activation charges at Rs 450
Posted at: Apr 2 2015 10:59PM
New Delhi, April 2
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) yesterday issued a tariff order (TO) prescribing a framework for Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) or set-top box offered by the Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators to their subscribers.
Under the new orders, not only would the DTH operators offer a transparent price declaration of all types of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to enable a subscriber to make an informed choice, but the transparent and upfront declaration of installation and activation charges by DTH operators shall not exceed Rs 450.
DTH services in India have been growing at a rapid pace since they were introduced in 2003. Today, there are six private operators offering DTH services to around 73 million subscribers.
As these operators have launched the services at different point of time, deploying different transmission and compression standards and encryption solutions, CPE deployed by one operator may not be compatible with the network of another operator.
TRAI pointed out that if a subscriber wishes to migrate to another DTH operator or cable TV platform, he is required to invest in the CPE/STB of the other operator.
It has also been observed that there is a lack of transparency in various schemes offered by the DTH operators in the market, TRAI said while issuing orders.
The Authority is of the view that interests of consumers in this regard can largely be protected through the provision of commercial interoperability of CPEs and mandating transparent and upfront declaration of all charges and conditions by the DTH operators at the time of providing service.
Commercial interoperability provides for an exit option to a
subscriber in case he wishes to change the operator and avail the services from another DTH operator for any reason.
Besides, the transparent pricing and cap on pricing the new orders also say that DTH operators have to mandatorily offer an outright purchase scheme called Standard Scheme for all types of CPEs on standalone basis and they may offer additional schemes, including bundled schemes and rental schemes.
In the rental schemes, DTH operators can charge a specified one-time interest-free refundable security deposit, installation and activation charges from the subscriber during enrolment followed by specified monthly rental charges. No repair/maintenance charges are permissible from such subscribers.
In case of outright purchase and hire purchase schemes, DTH operators may levy visiting charges not exceeding Rs 250 per visit after the warranty period.
Subscribers shall have an option of buy-back/refund for CPEs in all the offered schemes including bundled schemes with an exception of rental schemes.
DTH operators may prescribe a lock-in period not exceeding six months for a subscriber to remain committed. Subscribers can surrender the CPE any time subject to levy of certain charges that have been prescribed.
Source:The Tribune
