Govt claims 100% digitisation, cable operators contest figure

The Delhi government has claimed that the Capital has achieved 100% digitisation but the city’s cable operators think otherwise. Terming the government’s claim as “highly inflated”, cable operators say only 60-65% set top boxes (STB) have been installed so far.

The Delhi government has claimed that the Capital has achieved 100% digitisation but the city’s cable operators think otherwise. Terming the government’s claim as “highly inflated”, cable operators say only 60-65% set top boxes (STB) have been installed so far.

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“Consumer interest has not been taken into consideration at all. Many consumers are still not aware of how much will they have to pay at the end of the day. Also, if billing has to be done manually then what was the need for these set-up boxes? Only 60% of the population has got set up boxes in the city,” claimed Roop, president of Cable Operators Federation of India.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has set up a control room to receive complaints regarding overcharging for installing set up boxes.

“There are 33.41 lakh households of which 88% have television. There are a total of 22.98 cable television subscribers whereas in all, 23.21 lakh cable television STB’s have already been installed,” said PK Tripathi, chief secretary of Delhi.

The government has also appointed district magistrates and all sub-divisional magistrates as authorised officers within their local limits of jurisdiction to oversee the entire issue.

“Any complaints regarding carrying signal in analogue mode should be made to the SDM of the area,” said a senior Delhi government official.

The excise department has also set up a control room to receive complaints regarding overcharging for set top boxes.

“Complaints or any information regarding installation of set top boxes can be made during office hours between 9.30am and 6pm on 011-23370262,” added the official.