NEW DELHI: All multi system operators have been directed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to display details of their nodal officers on their website, to ensure smoother coordination..

In a letter, TRAI also asked the MSOs to inform their linked local cable operators for ease of business and to reduce disputes.

The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and cable services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012 requires that no Multi System Operator shall make available signals of TV channels to any linked local cable operator without entering into a written interconnection agreement. Further it also requires that each & every transaction between the MSO & its linked LCOs must be in writing.

The Communications and Information Technlogy Ministry saud in a press note that it had been brought to the notice of TRAI that the authorized representatives or nodal persons of MSOs are either inaccessible. Furthermore, they sometimes issue hand written transaction notes to LCOs without any specific authorization and company seal / stamp which is not in line with the regulations in this regard.

These practices also give rise to disputes as LCOs are not sure whether the contact person is authorized by respective MSO or not.

All MSOs have been directed to declare their nodal officers, who must be easily accessible to LCOs, physically as well as through Email/ mobile, so that they can interact with each other and resolve their issues in time bound manner.