MUMBAI: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in a notice dated 1 May, directed the country’s leading direct-to-home (DTH) operators to ensure compliance with all provisions of its new tariff order for the broadcast and cable TV services sector. After issuing a directive to multi system operators (MSOs) last month, the regulator shifted its focus to four DTH companies - Tata Sky, Dish TV, Sun Direct and Independent TV.

Based on numerous complaints from consumers, TRAI has asked these DTH operators to comply with all aspects of the new regulatory framework especially those related to the migration of long-duration pack (LDP) subscribers. 

TRAI asked the four DPOs to "desist from migrating long-term plan subscribers to any new plan till the contracted period ends, unless the subscriber opts out of it or the validity of the long term plan expires, whichever is earlier", allowing them seven days to comply with its directions.

Earlier this year, the RS Sharma-led regulatory body stated that consumers that have paid for LDPs should have no interruption in availability of channels until their validity ends.

Despite this, several consumers wrote to TRAI stating that their pre-paid LDPs have either been discontinued or migrated to ‘Best Fit Plans’ (BFPs) by DPOs.

According to a previous TRAI directive to DPOs, consumers that did not pick their channels under the new tariff order by 31 March had to be migrated to BFPs based on their consumption preferences. Consumers with LDPs, however, were exempt from this.

Last month, TRAI had directed top MSOs to implement all provisions of the new tariff order following numerous complaints from consumers.

In an exclusive interview with Indiantelevision.com, the TRAI chairman had stated that the regulator was closely monitoring the implementation of the new framework and that it would not hesitate in initiating action against DPOs that weren’t complying with its order.