Following a request from the Ministry of Broadcasting (MIB), the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has floated a consultation paper on the new regulatory framework needed for terrestrial broadcasters. 

Terrestrial Broadcasters 

Technological advancements have allowed terrestrial operators to provide services without any satellite-based intervention. These provide the services terrestrially and are not supposed to be uplinked or downlinked through satellites.  

Why is Regulation needed? 

“The advancement of technology has made it feasible for the broadcasters to provide their television channels to DPOs terrestrially also i.e. using ground-based technologies,” TRAI said in a press release.

“Like traditional TV channels, which are uplinked and downlinked through satellite, the terrestrially transmitted channels may also be carried on multiple DPO networks simultaneously. The DPOs can retransmit them on commercial terms to the subscribers. Therefore, there is a need to have a regulatory framework enabling the use of ground-based technologies.” the press release further stated. 

Previous Recommendations 

The previous recommendations made by TRAI in 2014 for terrestrial broadcasters have been deemed to be inadequate by the Ministry of Broadcasting (MIB) after taking into account the technological advancements that emerged in the broadcasting era. 

MIB has requested the TRAI to look into the entire issue afresh and suggest a new regulatory framework for terrestrial broadcasters, the press release stated. 

What are the Points of Consultation? 

In the consultation paper, the regulator has sought comments on various key aspects like: 

1. The criterion of distinction between terrestrial and satellite-based broadcasters, 
2. The Scope of Terrestrial Broadcasters, 
3. The inclusion of fiber, broadband, and cloud-based broadcasting into the segment, and finally 
4. Whether these providers should be divided into national and state levels or not, 

among many other issues to be clarified by the stakeholders. 

Benefits to Consumers 

TRAI has recommended that digital terrestrial broadcasting co-exist as a complementary framework to support cable and satellite broadcasting systems. It would enable digital TV content on mobile devices using digital terrestrial broadcasting technologies like 5G and direct-to-mobile broadcasting. 

Submissions 

It has asked the stakeholders to submit their written comments on the regulations by the 15th of next month while the counter comments, if any, can be submitted by the 29th of November. It has requested the stakeholders to submit them digitally via email.