Over 3,000 complaints against DTH service providers in 3 yrs: Govt
The complaints are related to various issues involving technical, financial and policy matters, the Ministry of Information has informed the Lok Sabha
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) received over 3,000 complaints against private DTH service providers in the last three years and the current year. The information has been provided by the ministry in the Lok Sabha.
The complaints are related to “various issues involving technical/financial/policy matters viz. delayed or improper installation, malfunctioning of set-top-box (STB), issues of interoperability, unauthorised disconnection, disruption of signal during bad weather, improper billing, recharge, service charges, subscription rates, tariff order, channel package, free-to-air and duration of advertisements.”
According to the data provided by the MIB, between 2015 and April 2, 2018, it received a total of 1,922 complaints. The TRAI, between 2015 and March 26, 2018, received 1,481 complaints.
The ministry submitted in the Lower House that “Out of the 1,922 complaints/grievances it received, 1,811 have been addressed till date (April 5, 2018).”
“The grievances related to subscription rate, tariff order and channel package are forwarded to TRAI for redressal,” it added.
On being asked if the government proposes to bring DTH portability on the lines of mobile number portability to help dissatisfied customers, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani submitted: TRAI in its recommendations on "issues relating to new DTH licenses” has recommended “replacement of licence condition at Clause 7.1 of the existing DTH guidelines”. This stipulates that “the open architecture (non-proprietary) set-top-box, which will ensure technical compatibility and effective interoperability among different DTH service providers, shall have specifications as laid down by the government from time to time. Also, the set-top-box offered by a DTH service provider shall have specifications as laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) from time to time”.
The TRAI further recommended that the BIS should come out with updated specifications for STBs from time to time and while doing so, it shall consult it. Also, the licence conditions should mandate the licensee to comply with the tariff order/scheme prescribed by TRAI for commercial interoperability.
The Lok Sabha was informed that the Inter-Ministerial-Committee (IMC) constituted for the purpose of examining the TRAI recommendations has suggested that the matter may be taken up with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the BIS. Accordingly, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has accepted the recommendations of IMC and referred the matter to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the BIS.
The complaints are related to “various issues involving technical/financial/policy matters viz. delayed or improper installation, malfunctioning of set-top-box (STB), issues of interoperability, unauthorised disconnection, disruption of signal during bad weather, improper billing, recharge, service charges, subscription rates, tariff order, channel package, free-to-air and duration of advertisements.”
According to the data provided by the MIB, between 2015 and April 2, 2018, it received a total of 1,922 complaints. The TRAI, between 2015 and March 26, 2018, received 1,481 complaints.
The ministry submitted in the Lower House that “Out of the 1,922 complaints/grievances it received, 1,811 have been addressed till date (April 5, 2018).”
“The grievances related to subscription rate, tariff order and channel package are forwarded to TRAI for redressal,” it added.
On being asked if the government proposes to bring DTH portability on the lines of mobile number portability to help dissatisfied customers, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Smriti Irani submitted: TRAI in its recommendations on "issues relating to new DTH licenses” has recommended “replacement of licence condition at Clause 7.1 of the existing DTH guidelines”. This stipulates that “the open architecture (non-proprietary) set-top-box, which will ensure technical compatibility and effective interoperability among different DTH service providers, shall have specifications as laid down by the government from time to time. Also, the set-top-box offered by a DTH service provider shall have specifications as laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) from time to time”.
The TRAI further recommended that the BIS should come out with updated specifications for STBs from time to time and while doing so, it shall consult it. Also, the licence conditions should mandate the licensee to comply with the tariff order/scheme prescribed by TRAI for commercial interoperability.
The Lok Sabha was informed that the Inter-Ministerial-Committee (IMC) constituted for the purpose of examining the TRAI recommendations has suggested that the matter may be taken up with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the BIS. Accordingly, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has accepted the recommendations of IMC and referred the matter to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the BIS.
Tags
Lok sabha
Ministry of information and broadcasting
Smriti irani
Telecom regulatory authority of india
Trai
Dth service providers
