Chennai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is yet to complete its confused roll-out as once again it has extended the deadline for switching to the new channel pricing till 31 March.
This is the latest in multiple extensions but the statement released by TRAI still leaves more questions than answers.
“In view of the larger public interest, the Authority directs all DPOs that those subscribers who do not exercise their options shall be migrated to a ‘Best Fit Plan’,” said TRAI in an official statement, before adding, “The subscribers’ old plan shall continue till either subscriber exercise his/her option, or he/she is migrated to the ‘Best Fit Plan’.”
In many ways, the cable tv operators and direct to home (DTH) service providers (referred to as Distribution Platform Owners or DPOs) are free to switch users to what is a ‘best fit’ plan under the new subscription packs as per the latest TRAI guidelines, to ensure that the services aren’t disrupted.
“The Authority hereby, vide this press release, extends time up to 31 March for exercising the option by such subscribers who have not exercised option yet,” TRAI said.
“Subscribers will be free to change their ‘Best Fit Plan’ at any date and time on or before 31 March and DPOs shall convert their ‘Best Fit Plan’ into the desired pack (channel/Bouquet) within 72 hours from the time choice exercised by the Subscriber,” said TRAI leaving the right to the cable TV operator of DTH company to switch customers to a best fit plan according to their current subscription.
The latest extension comes days after TRAI had announced that 65 million cable TV subscribers and 25 million subscribers, in total 90 million television subscribers in India, had made the switch to the new tariff plans already.
| Airtel to return annual plan cash to customers |
 To settle things with its customers who were enraged due to issues with new TRAI-based plans as many had paid for their annual-plan, Airtel Digital TV has issued a clarification that the subscribers of long term plans would receive the money back.Stating that customers should go ahead and switch to the new TRAI-based plans, the DTH provider said the left amount which has not yet been used will be credited back to the subscriber’s Airtel Digital TV account for further usage.
Tata Sky was the first DTH provider to confirm this move and Airtel DTH is following suit. It has been reported that a handful of Airtel subscribers seem to be facing some issues after making their channel selections. In reply to that, Airtel has said it is a temporary technical issue which will be soon resolved. |