Bharti Airtel’s Digital TV arm Airtel Digital TV on Friday corrected an anomaly in its Multi TV NCF making it fully compliant with the amended regulations (NTO 2.0). Despite having recently revised its NCF in line with Tariff Amendment Order 2020, Airtel’s Multi TV NCF wasn’t compliant with the regulations.
On 1 March, Airtel had implemented the New Tariff Order 2.0 (NTO 2.0) revising the network capacity fee for primary and secondary connections. While the primary connection NCF was compliant, Airtel declared a secondary connection NCF of Rs 52 excluding taxes for up to 200 SD channels and an additional NCF of Rs 30 excluding taxes for subscription to channels over and above the 200 SD channels.
According to the Tariff Amendment Order 2020, distribution platform operators can only charge a maximum of 40% NCF on the declared NCF by the DPO for Multi TV connections. Airtel’s Multi TV NCF for over 200 channels was Rs 82 excluding taxes which is 51% of the maximum NCF. Airtel according to the regulations, charges a maximum NCF of Rs 160 excluding for over 200 SD channels.
| Date | Multi TV NCF for over 200 channels | % of Maximum NCF |
| March 1 | Rs 82 (taxes extra) | 51% |
| March 13 | Rs 64 (taxes extra) | 40% |
On 13 March, Airtel has corrected the anomaly and revised its Multi TV NCF for over 200 channels. Airtel is now charging Rs 64 excluding taxes for subscription to channels greater than 200 SD channels. Rs 64 is 40% of the maximum NCF charged by Airtel, hence making it fully compliant with the amended regulations (NTO 2.0)
In other news, Airtel DTH has recently rolled out ‘One Airtel Plan’ wherein it is offering Airtel Xstream Box to new customers at Rs 1500 refundable security deposit. Customers can return the set-top box after 12 months of active usage and get a refund if they comply with all the terms and conditions.
