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The All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) has urged Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to expedite release of the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023. The ministry had submitted its Action Taken Report to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, stating that the process would take some time and that the committee would be kept updated on its progress.

On March 11, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) emphasized the urgent need to create a level playing field for all broadcasting services and address challenges related to satellite-based technologies, which continue to be governed by outdated legislation.

The report stated, "In light of these concerns, the committee believes that the cable TV industry requires regulation through a comprehensive act. Therefore, we recommend that the Ministry ensure the timely enactment of the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, as it will significantly address industry concerns."

The Ministry further stated, "Regarding the timeline for presenting the draft bill before Parliament, the Ministry will prepare a draft Cabinet Note after completing consultations with stakeholders. This note will then be circulated for inter-ministerial consultation. After that, the draft bill will be submitted for the Cabinet's approval. This process is expected to take some time, and the committee will be kept informed of its progress."

The release of MIB’s Action Taken Report provides important insights into the government’s stance on key issues affecting the cable TV sector. AIDCF acknowledges the Ministry’s efforts to address some of the industry's concerns, particularly through the acceptance of certain recommendations.

AIDCF noted that the Parliamentary Committee has recognized these concerns and reiterated that MIB, as the nodal ministry for cable television regulation in India, must actively seek updates on these matters and provide a more comprehensive response at the earliest opportunity.

An AIDCF spokesperson said, "We also request the Honorable Ministry to bring the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, at the earliest possible time. The contributions of TRAI and MIB in bringing relief to the industry are commendable and undeniable."

However, cable operators are also raising serious concerns that the government must address to support the growth of the cable TV industry.

A senior cable industry veteran stated, "Consumer choice is being undermined due to deep discounting—up to 45%—on à la carte versus bundled channel pricing. This issue needs to be resolved. For a three-hour movie, TV consumers end up watching for nearly five hours due to excessive advertisements, despite paying ₹19 for that channel. There is an urgent need for better content on TV, and advertising time also needs to be reviewed."

Additionally, serious reforms are required to address the decline in cable TV subscribers, which is also leading to significant job losses, he added.

AIDCF also applauded MIB for implementing progressive measures such as extending the MSO renewal period to 10 years, creating a National Register for LCOs, introducing online registration for LCOs, ensuring channels are strictly classified as either Pay or Free-to-Air (FTA), preventing Pay channels from being aired as FTA on DD Free Dish, and recommending policy guidelines for FAST channels.

An AIDCF spokesperson stated, "Despite these positive developments, several key challenges continue to strain the cable TV industry and require urgent attention, such as escalating channel prices, forced bundling, reduced consumer choice, regulatory imbalances with OTT platforms, linear TV channels on streaming platforms, and the misuse of regulatory loopholes by FAST channels."

While MIB and TRAI play a crucial role in shaping a regulatory environment that supports the long-term sustainability of the cable TV industry, swift reforms are necessary to curb the sector's decline, the spokesperson added.

The Cable TV industry in India is currently regulated by multiple laws, rules, and guidelines under various authorities such as the MIB, TRAI, and DoT. Recognizing the complexity of the existing system, the MIB has taken steps to streamline regulations. It has also acknowledged the urgent need to create a level playing field for all broadcasting services, including satellite-based technologies.

In 2021, the MIB issued guidelines allowing Multi-System Operators (MSOs) to share infrastructure, such as headends and networks, under specific conditions. This move is expected to reduce costs and promote small-scale operators by eliminating the need for heavy investments.

Another major reform is the shift from offline to online registration for Local Cable Operators (LCOs). Currently, LCOs register at local Head Post Offices, making the process cumbersome and inefficient. The MIB is in the advanced stages of launching an online registration system, which will be integrated into the Broadcast Seva Portal. This will simplify registration, improve compliance, and provide PAN-India validity for operators.

To improve oversight and transparency, the MIB is developing a Cable TV Monitoring Cell (CTMC), which will ensure that MSOs regularly report subscriber data. This initiative is designed to address issues like underreporting and tax evasion, which have been longstanding concerns in the industry.

Another major reform is the shift from offline to online registration for Local Cable Operators (LCOs). Currently, LCOs register at local Head Post Offices, making the process cumbersome and inefficient. The MIB is in the advanced stages of launching an online registration system, which will be integrated into the Broadcast Seva Portal. This will simplify registration, improve compliance, and provide PAN-India validity for operators.

The government responded to recommendations suggesting measures such as decriminalization of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, to increase investor confidence. Regulatory simplifications, such as longer license renewal periods for MSOs (extended to 10 years). Encouraging regional content through a new regulatory framework for Platform Services (PS) channels.


EXCLUSIVE: Cable operators urge MIB to fast track Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill

The Cable TV industry in India is currently regulated by multiple laws, rules, and guidelines under various authorities such as the MIB, TRAI, and DoT. Recognizing the complexity of the existing system, the MIB has taken steps to streamline regulations. It has also acknowledged the urgent need to create a level playing field for all broadcasting services, including satellite-based technologies.

In 2021, the MIB issued guidelines allowing Multi-System Operators (MSOs) to share infrastructure, such as headends and networks, under specific conditions. This move is expected to reduce costs and promote small-scale operators by eliminating the need for heavy investments.

Transition to Digital Monitoring and Online Registration

To improve oversight and transparency, the MIB is developing a Cable TV Monitoring Cell (CTMC), which will ensure that MSOs regularly report subscriber data. This initiative is designed to address issues like underreporting and tax evasion, which have been longstanding concerns in the industry.

Another major reform is the shift from offline to online registration for Local Cable Operators (LCOs). Currently, LCOs register at local Head Post Offices, making the process cumbersome and inefficient. The MIB is in the advanced stages of launching an online registration system, which will be integrated into the Broadcast Seva Portal. This will simplify registration, improve compliance, and provide PAN-India validity for operators.

Addressing Consumer Protection and Channel Pricing

In response to concerns raised by the Standing Committee on channel pricing and bundling by broadcasters. The MIB has forwarded the issue to TRAI, which is currently reviewing potential regulatory adjustments.

Additionally, the MIB is working to enhance consumer grievance mechanisms. The Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) is already in place, enabling consumers to file complaints against cable operators. To increase consumer awareness, the MIB has conducted extensive outreach campaigns through print, electronic, and digital media.

Employment and Industry Growth Initiatives
The declining subscriber base in the cable TV industry has led to job losses, with an estimated 600,000 workers affected over the past four years. While the MIB has acknowledged that technological advancements contribute to job reductions, it has taken measures to boost industry growth and encourage investment.

The government responded to recommendations suggesting measures such as decriminalization of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, to increase investor confidence. Regulatory simplifications, such as longer license renewal periods for MSOs (extended to 10 years). Encouraging regional content through a new regulatory framework for Platform Services (PS) channels.

MIB updates Parliamentary Committee on cable TV industry issues

The Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 has gained momentum as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology intensifies its scrutiny, urging the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) to take swift action. The Ministry has informed the committee that the process will take some time and that the committee will be kept updated on its progress.

In its Fifty-Sixth Report, the Parliamentary committee noted that multiple Acts, rules, and guidelines currently regulate the cable TV industry, along with multiple regulatory bodies, including the MIB, TRAI, and DoT. For instance, while the MIB serves as the registering authority for Multi-System Operators (MSOs), the Head Post Office in a given area registers Local Cable Operators (LCOs).

Additionally, the MIB has highlighted the urgent need to create a level playing field for all broadcasting services and to address challenges related to satellite-based technologies, which continue to be governed by outdated legislation.

"In light of these concerns, the committee believes that the cable TV industry requires regulation through a comprehensive Act. Therefore, we recommend that the Ministry ensure the timely enactment of the proposed Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023, as it will significantly address industry concerns."

The committee also emphasized the importance of consulting all relevant stakeholders. It recommended that all aspects of the cable industry be considered when drafting the comprehensive Bill. Additionally, the committee expressed its intention to engage in constructive discussions regarding the draft legislation as it reaches a more advanced stage.

Furthermore, the committee requested that the Ministry provide a timeline for presenting the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 before Parliament and keep the committee informed about the bill’s progress.

In response to these recommendations, the MIB, in its Action Taken Report, stated that the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023 was made public on November 10, 2023, inviting comments from the general public and stakeholders until December 9, 2023. This deadline was later extended to January 15, 2024. After receiving numerous comments and conducting a series of consultations, the Ministry provided additional time for feedback until October 15, 2024. A revised draft will be published following further detailed consultations.

"Regarding the timeline for presenting the draft bill before Parliament, the Ministry will prepare a draft Cabinet Note after completing consultations with stakeholders. This note will then be circulated for inter-ministerial consultation. After that, the draft bill will be submitted for the Cabinet's approval. This process is expected to take some time, and the committee will be kept informed of its progress."

With the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting actively engaging in consultations and refining the draft, it is essential to ensure that the final legislation effectively addresses all industry concerns.

Broadcasting Services Bill gains momentum amid Parliamentary scrutiny

The All India Digital Cable Foundation (AIDCF) is strongly opposing Free Ad-supported Streaming Television (FAST), alleging that it blurs the lines between traditional broadcasting and internet-based streaming. The cable operators' association has also written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), urging it to direct these OTT platforms to restrict the transmission of live channels.

AIDCF states that various OTT services—including Zee5, SunNXT, MX Player, Yupp TV, Samsung TV Plus, Vodafone Play, Tata Play, Distro TV, Patchwall+ (Xiaomi), and LG WebOS—are offering live channels to consumers, often appearing to operate outside the scope of the existing Uplinking/Downlinking guidelines issued on November 9, 2022, and its subsequent amendment on March 24, 2023, as well as the IPTV Regulation dated September 14, 2023.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in its January 2025 recommendations on ‘Regulatory Framework for Ground-based Broadcasters’, observed that “FAST channel services, to the extent they are streaming TV channels, are quite similar to traditional broadcasting.” TRAI noted that the issue “needs further examination” and recommended the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) to assess whether FAST channels align with the existing regulatory framework and, if necessary, introduce policy guidelines in consultation with TRAI.

Building upon its earlier observations, TRAI, in its February 2025 recommendations on ‘Framework for Service Authorisations for Provision of Broadcasting Services under the Telecommunications Act, 2023’, reiterated its earlier stance over the proliferation of FAST channels in India were “a genuine one” and were “affecting level playing field with respect to the regulated traditional broadcasting ecosystem.” 

TRAI had underscored that “such a regulatory arbitrage is likely to topple the competitive balance in the industry towards such free-of-cost service providers” and emphasized that this “anomaly” could not be ignored. It further asserted that “it was necessary to intervene in the matter to ensure a fair and balanced competitive environment in the sector.”

In a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, AIDCF stated, "Unlike traditional distribution platform operators (DPOs), these services do not seem to be subject to the same regulatory scrutiny, potentially creating an uneven playing field for Pay TV operators. This situation is contributing to the decline of the Pay TV market, as these OTT services are not bound by the same content distribution, licensing, and compliance regulations, nor do they adhere to the audit standards established for traditional players."

While acknowledging the benefits of OTT platforms in expanding content accessibility, AIDCF believes that the current regulatory framework needs adjustments to ensure fair competition. The letter further states that the lack of clear guidelines for live channel distribution via OTT platforms is causing significant industry concerns.

A veteran cable operator told Storyboard18, "We urge the MIB to issue an advisory directing these OTT platforms to restrict the transmission of live channels. We also request the Ministry to take strict action against these applications if they are found violating the advisory, downlinking guidelines, or IPTV regulations."

He added, "The government should establish comprehensive regulatory guidelines for OTT platforms offering live TV channels, covering aspects such as content distribution, licensing, and adherence to broadcasting standards—similar to those imposed on Pay TV and IPTV operators."

Cable operators are also demanding that licensing and tax obligations currently applicable to traditional Cable TV, DTH, HITS, and IPTV operators be extended to OTT platforms to ensure market uniformity and fairness.

Another senior cable operator, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "From a regulatory standpoint, it is only logical that all entities delivering linear TV content, regardless of their distribution technology, should be subject to a comparable regulatory framework. TRAI has recognized this issue and acknowledged the need for clear guidelines governing linear TV channel distribution via video OTT platforms, including FAST services."

He further added, "TRAI’s recognition of the regulatory gap and its recommendation for clear guidelines is a step in the right direction. Now, the responsibility falls on the MIB to take swift action in implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework that ensures video OTT platforms, including FAST services, are subject to the same standards. This would eliminate preferential treatment, create a fair competitive landscape, and preserve the integrity of the broadcasting ecosystem."

Cable operators are also urging the government to promote and develop IPTV services, such as BSNL IPTV, which operate under TRAI's existing IPTV guidelines and serve as a balanced alternative to OTT and Pay TV offerings.

Cable operators demand regulatory parity as FAST 'blurs' broadcasting boundaries

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) appointed two new whole time members for a tenure of three years. The newly appointed members are; Ritu Ranjan Mittar and Maruthi Prasad Tangirala (IP&TAFS: 1990). 

R R Mittar is former Head & Advisor, Telecommunication Engineering Centre while M P Tangirala is Additional Secretary, Department of Financial Services.  

The appointment will be for a tenure of three years, or till the age of 65 years, or until further orders, whichever is the earliest. The appointments committee of the cabinet approved their appointments on Saturday.

TRAI is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India. Currently, former Chairman & CEO of Railway Board Anil Kumar Lahoti is TRAI Chairman while Prof Ranjan Bose and Neelkanth Mishra are Part-time Member. Atul Kumar Chaudhary, a 1989 batch officer belonging to Indian Telecommunication Service, is Secretary.

TRAI appoints two whole time members

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will meet multiple stakeholders on January 8 for an Open House Discussion on Consultation Paper (CP) Formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private Radio broadcasters. TRAI had released the CP on September 30 last year. 

TRAI received 43 comments and 13 counter comments. In order to develop an eco-system, which can facilitate deployment of digital radio broadcasting, TRAI suo-motu gave its recommendations on “Issues related to Digital Radio Broadcasting in India” on 1st February 2018. 

Multiple stakeholders including Association of Radio Operators for India(AROI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry(FICCI), India Cellular & Electronics Association(ICEA), The National Chamber of the Radio and Television Industry(CIRT), Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited among others have shared their comments. 

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting vide its reference dated 23rd April 2024 has sought recommendations of TRAI on formulating a digital radio broadcast policy for private Radio broadcasters. MIB has mentioned that in order to cater to technology shift, some existing provisions under FM Phase-III policy may require a relook.  MIB has also highlighted certain issues that may be considered while formulating recommendations for digital radio broadcast policy.

TRAI had also emphasized that the government should come out with a detailed policy framework for Digital Radio Broadcasting in India, which should provide detailed roadmap for rollout of digital radio broadcasting services in a time bound manner.

At present, analogue terrestrial radio broadcast in India is carried out in Medium Wave (MW) (526–1606 KHz), Short Wave (SW) (6–22 MHz), and VHF-II (88–108 MHz) spectrum bands. VHF-II band is popularly known as FM band due to deployment of Frequency Modulation (FM) technology in this band. All India Radio (AIR) - the public service broadcaster - provides radio broadcasting services in MW, SW and FM bands. Private sector radio broadcasters are licensed to transmit programs in FM frequency band (88-108 MHz) only.

Digital Radio broadcasting will provide a number of advantages over analogue radio broadcasting. The major advantage of Digital Radio broadcasting is capability of broadcasting three to four channels on a single frequency carrier, while ensuring excellent quality of audio for all the channels, whereas in the analogue mode only one channel broadcasting is possible on a frequency carrier. In a competitive environment, digital radio broadcasting can provide exciting new opportunities to radio broadcasters as well as a host of value-added-services to the listeners.

All India Radio (AIR) has initiated digitization of its analogue MW and SW radio broadcast network and replaced its existing 38 analogue transmitters with digital transmitters. AIR has conducted trials for digital radio technologies in FM band also. However, any initiative in digitization of FM band by private FM radio broadcasters is still awaited.

TRAI to hold OHD on 8 Jan for formulating Digital Radio Broadcast Policy

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested a senior TRAI officer for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a cable operator in Himachal Pradesh to favour him in compliance matters and to not recommend cancellation of licenses to the ministry. 

On Friday, the agency booked Narender Singh Rawat, a senior research officer of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for allegedly demanding the bribe from a licenced cable operator for favouring in assessing regulatory documents such as quarterly performance reports.

A CBI spokesperson said, "After receiving the complaint we kept a close watch on the suspect. The purpose of demanding and accepting the bribe was to not recommend cancellation of their licenses to the ministry." 
The spokesperson also said that as per TRAI guidelines, the said cable operators are required to submit their quarterly performance monitoring to Rawat, after assessment or perusal, accepts or recommends cancellation of their licences if some discrepancies are found." 

“The complainant is a licence holder of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for running cable services in Sirmaur district,” an officer said. The complaint was filed on behalf of five other cable operators, alleging that the accused officer was favouring them by improperly assessing their regulatory documents — the Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports (Q-PMRs) — and withholding recommendations to cancel their licenses." 

After preliminary verifications, the CBI laid a trap and caught Rawat red handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 1 lakh in his Delhi office from the complainant. The agency conducted searches at residential and official premises of the accused in Greater Noida and New Delhi. 

The CBI has registered a case under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Corruption Act. 


TRAI official accepts Rs 1 Lakh bribe to favour cable operator, arrested by CBI

India's telecom sector showed a mixed performance in October 2024, with declines in wireless and broadband subscriptions, while wireline services and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) connections recorded positive growth. 

As per the data shared by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, BSNL and Atria Convergence are amongst the top five service providers. Reliance Jio leads this list with 474.81 million subscribers, followed by Bharti Airtel with 287.67 million subscribers.

Wireless subscriber decline continues...

The number of wireless subscribers in India decreased for the second consecutive month, dropping from 1,153.72 million in September 2024 to 1,150.42 million by the end of October 2024. This marks a 0.29 percent monthly decline in the wireless subscriber base, with both urban and rural segments witnessing losses. Urban wireless subscriptions fell from 628.12 million to 625.56 million, while rural subscriptions dipped slightly from 525.60 million to 524.86 million.

This decline resulted in a drop in wireless tele-density, which fell from 82.07 percent at the end of September to 81.77 percent in October. Both urban and rural tele-densities also saw marginal reductions during the month.

Despite these declines, the overall share of private operators in the wireless market remains dominant, holding 91.78 percent of the market. BSNL and MTNL, the public sector undertakings, continue to lose ground, collectively holding only 8.22 percent of the wireless market share.

Broadband subscriber too decline!

Broadband subscriptions also saw a slight decrease, with the total number of broadband subscribers declining from 944.40 million at the end of September 2024 to 941.47 million by the end of October 2024. This represents a 0.31 percent monthly decline, although the number of broadband operators grew marginally, from 1167 operators in September to 1175 operators in October.

Wireline continues to grow...

In contrast to the decline in wireless and broadband subscriptions, wireline services saw growth. The number of wireline subscribers rose from 36.93 million in September to 37.79 million in October, marking a net increase of 0.85 million and a growth rate of 2.31 percent. The wireline tele-density also grew slightly from 2.63 to 2.69 percent.

BSNL, MTNL, and APSFL, the three major public sector service providers in the wireline space, continue to hold a significant share of 23.29 percent of the market as of October 2024. Urban areas dominate the wireline market, accounting for 92.25 percent of the total wireline subscribers, with rural areas representing just 7.75 percent.

What's with M2M connections?

The number of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) connections continued to increase in October 2024, rising from 54.64 million to 56.12 million. Bharti Airtel leads the M2M market with 29.08 million connections, holding a 51.82 percent market share, followed by Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio, and BSNL.

The implementation of Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has seen a steady rise in requests, with a total of 13.45 million requests recorded in October 2024. This brings the cumulative number of MNP requests since its implementation to 1052.56 million, an increase of 13.45 million compared to September 2024. The highest number of requests has been received from Zone-I (Northern and Western India), with Uttar Pradesh-East and Maharashtra leading the list.

As of October 2024, the total number of telephone subscribers in India (both wireless and wireline) decreased to 1,188.20 million, down from 1,190.66 million in September. This decrease was reflected in both urban and rural areas, with urban subscriptions falling to 660.42 million and rural subscriptions declining slightly to 527.79 million.

The overall tele-density in India also dropped slightly, from 84.69 percent in September to 84.46 percent in October. Urban tele-density stood at 131.31 percent, while rural tele-density decreased slightly to 58.39 percent.

While the October 2024 data shows challenges in the wireless and broadband sectors, the growth in wireline and M2M subscriptions suggests a shift towards more stable and long-term connectivity solutions. The continued rise in MNP requests underscores the increasing consumer mobility and preference for service provider flexibility.

The overall telecom market in India continues to be dominated by private operators, with 91.78 percent of the wireless subscriber base, while state-run BSNL and MTNL continue to face challenges in retaining market share.

Reliance Jio leads broadband services sector with 474.81 mn subscribers, reveals TRAI data

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has launched an upgraded version of its website, to broaden its reach and improve communication with a wider audience. As per TRAI, the new website introduces a host of innovative features aimed at making regulatory information more accessible to the public, stakeholders, researchers and international audiences due to the growing importance of social media and digital platforms.

The revamped website offers a wealth of information related to telecom and broadcasting regulations, policies, laws, statistics and industry trends in India. These resources are now easier to navigate and can be accessed by a broad spectrum of users, from policymakers to academics to everyday consumers.

Key features of the new website include a new dashboard for telecom & broadcasting sector, data download for research, grid view feature, social media sharing across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), online registration for subscriptions to latest updates, releases and newsletters, new blog and commenting facility, event updates, compliance with accessibility standards, tenders and notices, consolidated regulations.

To further enhance user experience, the website has also introduced TARA (Telecom Authority Responsive Advisor), an AI-powered chatbot designed to assist with interactive searches and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

The website has been hosted on the NIC Cloud for enhanced security and reliability. TRAI has also confirmed that the old website will remain operational for the next three months, running concurrently with the new platform to ensure a smooth transition for users.

With these new features, TRAI aims to foster greater interaction with stakeholders and keep them informed about developments in the sector. The upgraded website is fully compatible with iOS, Android and various other platforms, further broadening its reach across different devices and operating systems.

TRAI unveils upgraded website with new features; aims to enhance accessibility, public engagement

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) held an Open House Discussion (OHD) on Friday, engaging multiple stakeholders regarding the consultation paper for the regulatory framework for Ground-Based Broadcasters (GBBs). Stakeholders emphasized that GBBs should be treated on par with Satellite-Based Broadcasters (SBBs).

The consultation paper, released by TRAI on October 18, invited stakeholders to submit written comments until November 15 and counter-comments by November 29. Its scope was limited to developing a regulatory framework for ground-based broadcasting services, including the technologies to be permitted and any conditions or restrictions for providing their channels to Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs).

The paper defined broadcasters using satellite-based communication as SBBs and those employing terrestrial communication as GBBs. However, many stakeholders expressed concerns about the definition of terrestrial communication and urged TRAI to clarify the terms for GBBs in the consultation paper.

The consultation paper highlighted that GBBs could leverage advanced technologies like cloud-based platforms, broadband networks, and fiber technology to distribute content to DPOs efficiently. These platforms enable broadcasters to store, manage, and deliver content seamlessly via the Internet, offering flexibility and scalability in content distribution.

The News Broadcasters and Digital Association (NBDA) warned that while GBBs have the potential to diversify broadcasting, allowing them to operate without a well-defined regulatory structure could undermine competitive fairness. They noted that satellite broadcasters are already subject to stringent regulatory standards, including permissions, content guidelines, and operational transparency.

Anil Kumar Malhotra of ZEEL, representing NBDA, stressed the importance of consistent regulations across all broadcasting mediums. "Regulations should ensure that the content consumed on TV screens, regardless of the delivery medium—be it cloud or satellite—remains compliant with established guidelines to avoid misleading or inappropriate content," he said.

Rajiv Khattar, an independent consultant, advocated for a unified definition of broadcasting that is technology-agnostic. He emphasized that future advancements, such as terrestrial technology, should be integrated into a single framework covering regulations, licensing, and operational guidelines.

Debashish Bhattacharya, Senior Deputy Director General of Broadband India Forum, argued for a common definition of broadcasting based on its function rather than its medium. "A broadcaster is defined by its act of communicating with the public, irrespective of whether the transmission medium is terrestrial or satellite," he stated.

In contrast, the All India Digital Cable Federation (AIDCF) called for clear distinctions between GBBs and SBBs, asserting that their definitions should reflect their transmission mediums. AIDCF also raised concerns about OTT platforms like Yupp TV, Samsung TV Plus, and Tata Play, which provide live channels seemingly outside the scope of existing guidelines, effectively functioning as GBBs.

Manoj Chhangani, Secretary General of AIDCF, urged TRAI to include live channel distribution via OTT platforms in the GBB regulatory framework to ensure a level playing field with traditional Pay TV operators.

Rabindra Narayan, Managing Director of PTC Network, called for unified laws for all broadcasters to avoid complexities and ensure fair compliance. He also advocated for equal fee structures across all broadcasting platforms.

Bhattacharya of BIF proposed parity in regulatory fees between GBBs and SBBs, suggesting an annual fee of ₹7 lakhs for both. He also recommended relaxing net worth requirements to lower entry barriers for smaller players. Additionally, he proposed less stringent regulations for regional or state-level GBBs to encourage local content creators and entrepreneurs.