NEW DELHI: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) has directed that no multi system operator (MSOs) besides Siti Cable Network will be permitted to give signals to eleven local cable operators (LCOs) who were earlier members of the Rajasthan Cable Operators Foundation.

While these eleven LCOs owe a sum of Rs 17.49 lakh to Siti Cable Network, the Foundation says that the LCOs are no longer its members.

Earlier on 5 August, the Foundation said that these LCOs were its members but had failed to make payments to Siti Cable Network.

TDSAT chairman Justice Aftab Alam and members Kuldip Singh and B B Srivastava said the cable operators represented by the Foundation including the 11 allegedly in default had been receiving uninterrupted supply of signals from Siti Cable in terms of the interim order passed by the Tribunal under which each of the LCOs was obliged to pay Rs 75 per subscriber per month, excluding of taxes. 

As it is alleged that the 11 cable operators did not make payments in terms of the order, the Tribunal said, “It would be fair and reasonable to direct that they may not migrate to any other MSO without clearing Siti Cable’s dues in terms of the Tribunal’s orders or satisfactorily refute the allegation that they are in default.”

Listing the matter for 26 August, the Tribunal therefore made it clear that until further orders, no other MSO apart from Siti Cable Network will supply any signals to the concerned 11 LCOs.