MUMBAI: Within a few days of directing six distribution platform operators (DPOs) to comply with all provisions of its new tariff order, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) has issued a directive to Airtel Digital TV along the same lines. The regulator issued the notice to Airtel Digital TV after finding violation of rules of the new tariff order.

Based on receipt of complaints and inspection of DPOs’ websites and consumer premises by TRAI officials, the following issues were observed by the regulator:

·  The said DTH operator is forcefully offering a bouquet of free-to-air channels with no choice to subscribers, without their consent and with no additional NCF. This is in addition to the channels opted by the subscribers.

·   Most of the times, the consumers are not able to contact the toll-free number of M/s Bharti Telemedia Ltd to express their grievance.

Hence, the regulatory body ordered the DTH operator to resolve the issues as well as to report compliance as per the new regulatory framework within five days from the date of issue of the direction.

According to a recent PTI report, TRAI has warned all cable TV and DTH players that those found to be flouting its new tariff order rules will be taken to task. Moreover, the regulator will also undertake an audit of the subscriber management and IT systems of operators that don’t abide by its rules.

TRAI’s deadline for consumers to select their new TV channels ended on 31 March. Consumers that did not pick new channels have now been migrated to ‘best fit packs’.