[by Cerius Shah]

Big news for cable TV operators: the I&B ministry, based on TRAI’s recommendations, has approved cable TV operators to provide IPTV services. Importantly, this authorizes broadcasters who are currently delivering signals via cable and DTH to distribute over IPTV as well. According to this ET report, cable operators must give a declaration to the I&B about the details of the service to facilitate monitoring.

The DoT hasn’t given an approval to ISP’s and Telcos as yet. Considering that there is an FDI handicap of 49% for cable operators compared to 74% for Telco’s and ISP’s, they have given the cable industry the headstart. The Bureau of Indian Standards is supposed to standardize set-top box specifications, would be interesting to see if they keep it open, effectively allowing any service provider to plug-n-play instead of a proprietary walled garden infrastructure.

In spite of the approval, it’s still going to be a while until broadcasters begin to make hay. Many of them have joined distribution alliances and exclusive arrangements, effectively signing off their IPTV rights until their agreements run dry on the term date.