TRAI's order to broadcasters, NTO 2.0 to be implemented by August 10

In January, the Telecom Authority (TRAI) ordered the telecom operators to roll out the new NTA 2.0 (National Tariff Order).

 TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) has directed broadcasters to implement NTA 2.0 by 10 August. Let us tell you that in January itself, the Telecom Authority had ordered the telecom operators to roll out the new NTA 2.0 (National Tariff Order). After which all DTH service providers including Airtel, Tata Sky, Dish TV had decided to offer the channel to the users under a new tariff order. It is now stuck on the broadcasters where the channel service providers have to issue the rates of their bouquet packs under the new tariff order under the new tariff order.

On Friday, the telecom regulator has directed all broadcasters to offer their channels to users under the new tariff order and implement all the provisions of NTA 2.0 by 10 August. Under the new tariff order, broadcasters have been directed to publish the maximum monthly rates, bouquets and interconnected offers of their channels to make it easier for the users to subscribe to the channels. TRAI has ordered all broadcasters to publish their information about their channels' maximum rates, interconnected packs or offers and bouquets in their website or public domain.

The regulator released NTA 2.0 for DTH, cable operators and on 1 January 2020. TRAI expressed displeasure over the broadcasters saying that broadcasters have been issuing cheap bouquets under NTA 1.0 from August 1 without informing the regulator and publishing expensive bouquets. Also, the regulator also said that it is against the rules of NTA 1.0.

The regulator has also claimed that some distribution platform operators (DPOs) have also complained to the regulator about broadcasters not issuing RIOs (reference interconnected offers) as per NTA 2.0. Due to which many DPOs are not agreeing with the broadcasters for new agreements. This can be very harmful for the industry. Whereas, some broadcasters are activating their old agreements with DPO.

NTA 2.0 is not fully implemented due to this attitude of broadcasters. It is affecting transparency between broadcasters, DPOs and users in this sector. TRAI implemented NTA 1.0 last year to ensure transparency between users and broadcasters as well as cable operators and service providers. The regulator also implemented NTA 2.0 under this in January 2020, so that users do not have to pay more for channels and transparency between broadcasters and service providers also remains.