MUMBAI: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has set up a Toll Free Telephone Number 1-800-180-4343 to answer queries of stakeholders, including consumers, for seamless transition to digitisation. To begin with the queries can be answered in 8 Indian languages - Hindi, English, Bangla, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu,Tamil & Kannada.
After the completion of first two phases of cable TV digitisation, which covered 4 metros (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai) and 38 cities having populations of more than 10 lakh each, Phase III of digitisation is underway. It would cover all the remaining urban areas in the country and is to be completed by 31 Dec 2015.
The MIB has been facilitating the smooth switchover to digitisation. In this connection a list of urban areas to be covered in Phase III has been finalised in consultation with the state/Union Territory Governments. A Task Force has been constituted which is meeting every month to take stock of the progress. State and Union Territory Governments have nominated state level and district level nodal officers for coordination work. 10 workshops have been conducted by the Ministry of I&B at regional level to sensitise the nominated nodal officers about their role in the digitisation process.
Twelve regional units have also been set up by the MIB for effective coordination. Secretary (I&B) has requested all the Chief Secretaries to set up monitoring committees to review preparedness for digitisation. Broadcasters as well as Multi System Operators (MSOs) have launched public awareness campaign. MIS software has been made operational for collection of seeding status of Set Top Boxes (STBs) online from registered MSOs, Direct To Home (DTH) and Headend In the Sky (HITS) operators.
