KOLKATA: The Multi System Operators (MSO) have started switching off signals in several pockets in Kolkata where cable operators have failed to comply with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) norms. Also, it is interesting to note that as soon as the details of the customers were fed into the system by the MSOs, the set top boxes were reactivated within few hours. MSOs too concede about the hurry that consumers are in now. “About 30,000 boxes had been deactivated and then reactivated after receiving filled out forms from them,” said Manthan director Sudeep Ghosh. “We are in touch with the MSOs and we have been told that nearly two lakh set top boxes have been deactivated across the city and about 1.3 lakh boxes have been downgraded to DD channels only. Customers have now understood the gravity of the problem and are now hurrying up to fill the Customer Application Form and the Channel Application Form,” said a TRAI official. The phase-wise deactivation of set top boxes had proved to be effective in sending out the intended message to consumers, he said. Consumers are confused and are complaining that there had been no intimation to them about the forms. A DTH service provider said that many consumers are thinking of switching over to DTHs as they feel it is better to settle with the seamless connection instead of haggling with the cable operator, who is ill-informed and not up to date with the industry norms. source Indian Television Dot Com > Digital Edge > Customers hurry to fill CAFs as blackout commences
Customers hurry to fill CAFs as blackout commences
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Kolkata's cable TV customers feel CAF heat as blackouts spread
KOLKATA: Kolkata is seeing some frenetic activity on the cable TV front. The city's multisystem operators (MSO) have started switching off signals in several pockets in Kolkata where cable operators have failed to comply with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) norms and not provided them with the KYC or CAF forms of their subscribers. But MSOs have also been prompt in bringing the disconnected customers back online once the CAFs are submitted and fed into their systems.
Apparently, the consensus amongst the cable TV fratenity is that cable TV subscribers are understanding the gravity of the situation with their cable TV connections being cut. And they have been a hurry to submit their CAFs now. “About 30,000 boxes had been deactivated and then reactivated after we received filled out forms from them,” said Manthan director Sudeep Ghosh.
“We are in touch with the MSOs and we have been told that nearly two lakh set top boxes have been deactivated across the city and about 1.3 lakh boxes have been downgraded to DD channels only,” says a TRAI official."And this is working as all the MSOs are saying that they are being flooded with CAFs as compared to earlier when there was lethargy."
The phase-wise deactivation of set top boxes had proved to be effective in sending out the intended message to consumers, he said.
Consumers are confused and are complaining that there had been no intimation to them about the forms.
A DTH service provider said that its call centres are receiving extra call loads with cable TV subscribers enquiring about the options available to them. "Our callers have expressed that it is better to settle with the seamless connection instead of haggling with the cable operator, who is ill-informed and not up to date with what is expected to be done," says the DTH executive.
We will have to simply keep our eyes glued to see if those callers will migrate to DTH. Going by past track records in other cities in phase I and phase II, it probably does not seem likely. Though many have expressed that a paradigm shift is needed.
Indian Television Dot Com > Digital Edge > Kolkata's cable TV customers feel CAF heat as blackouts spread
..
KOLKATA: Kolkata is seeing some frenetic activity on the cable TV front. The city's multisystem operators (MSO) have started switching off signals in several pockets in Kolkata where cable operators have failed to comply with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) norms and not provided them with the KYC or CAF forms of their subscribers. But MSOs have also been prompt in bringing the disconnected customers back online once the CAFs are submitted and fed into their systems.
Apparently, the consensus amongst the cable TV fratenity is that cable TV subscribers are understanding the gravity of the situation with their cable TV connections being cut. And they have been a hurry to submit their CAFs now. “About 30,000 boxes had been deactivated and then reactivated after we received filled out forms from them,” said Manthan director Sudeep Ghosh.
“We are in touch with the MSOs and we have been told that nearly two lakh set top boxes have been deactivated across the city and about 1.3 lakh boxes have been downgraded to DD channels only,” says a TRAI official."And this is working as all the MSOs are saying that they are being flooded with CAFs as compared to earlier when there was lethargy."
The phase-wise deactivation of set top boxes had proved to be effective in sending out the intended message to consumers, he said.
Consumers are confused and are complaining that there had been no intimation to them about the forms.
A DTH service provider said that its call centres are receiving extra call loads with cable TV subscribers enquiring about the options available to them. "Our callers have expressed that it is better to settle with the seamless connection instead of haggling with the cable operator, who is ill-informed and not up to date with what is expected to be done," says the DTH executive.
We will have to simply keep our eyes glued to see if those callers will migrate to DTH. Going by past track records in other cities in phase I and phase II, it probably does not seem likely. Though many have expressed that a paradigm shift is needed.
Indian Television Dot Com > Digital Edge > Kolkata's cable TV customers feel CAF heat as blackouts spread
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Around 1.80 lakh defaulters in Kolkata face TV blackout as of 26 August
KOLKATA: With the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) pressuring service providers in Kolkata to disconnect the television connections of customers for not submitting the subscriber application forms, multiple system operators, more than 1.80 lakh customers have experienced a black out till Monday evening.
While talking about the snapping of the connection which started from Saturday morning, Den Networks, Hathway Cable and Datacom and Manthan Broadband Services snapped the maximum number of cable connections, out of 80,000 which were disconnected on August 24.
Also, with just around 45 days remaining for the grand festival of Durga Puja, some cable operators are relaxed and have assured the customers that they can send the details after the festival is over, said a customer, using the service of one of the players, which has maximum penetration in KM area.
Industry sources said: “The consumer application forms (CAF) of these MSOs were not ready as compared to other players like SitiCable. As a result, the three MSOs had to switch off the connection,” adding that the MSO will continue to switch-off few connections at a time in the coming days to guard against law-and-order problem.
As per the TRAI mandate, the MSOs were supposed to switch-off the cable connections of those customers, who had not filled-up the CAFs in Kolkata post midnight of 23 August.
Committee of the Association of Cable Operators, Cable Operators Digitalisation convener Swapan Chowdhury said the MSOs have been asked by the TRAI to provide details of TV connections running illegally in the KM area.
Siticable that has disconnected more than 90,000 subscribers till Monday evening, has seen a good response from customers. "We are not switching off the connections of CAF non compliance customers at a go. We are doing it in small numbers - say 15,000," expounded Siticable director (Kolkata) Suresh Sethia.
Manthan Broadband Services which has installed 6.5 lakh to seven lakh set top boxes, had alone disconnected around 30,000 connections on Saturday, said Manthan Broadband Services director Sudip Ghosh.
“Our purpose is not to switch-off the connection. But after snapping say four connections, more than 100 customers have approached from the vicinity,” he added.
Seeing the fast response from the customers, it can be easily assumed that in the KM DAS area, CAFs rate is likely to be 70 per cent to 80 per cent in next six days - seven days, Ghosh predicted.
Den Networks and Hathway Cable and Datacom could not be asked specifically about the connections snapped by them in KM area.
Cable Shilpa Bachao Committee convener Mrinal Chatterjee said instead of disconnecting the TV sets, TRAI should penalise the MSOs and not the customers by asking MSOs to switch off the connection; as the CAFs were not given to the customers on time.
With no official extension notice from the regulatory body, will Kolkata see deactivation of set-top boxes of more and more defaulters at this juncture? Watch this space for the latest updates.
Indian Television Dot Com > Digital Edge >Around 1.80 lakh defaulters in Kolkata face TV blackout as of 26 August
..
KOLKATA: With the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) pressuring service providers in Kolkata to disconnect the television connections of customers for not submitting the subscriber application forms, multiple system operators, more than 1.80 lakh customers have experienced a black out till Monday evening.
While talking about the snapping of the connection which started from Saturday morning, Den Networks, Hathway Cable and Datacom and Manthan Broadband Services snapped the maximum number of cable connections, out of 80,000 which were disconnected on August 24.
Also, with just around 45 days remaining for the grand festival of Durga Puja, some cable operators are relaxed and have assured the customers that they can send the details after the festival is over, said a customer, using the service of one of the players, which has maximum penetration in KM area.
Industry sources said: “The consumer application forms (CAF) of these MSOs were not ready as compared to other players like SitiCable. As a result, the three MSOs had to switch off the connection,” adding that the MSO will continue to switch-off few connections at a time in the coming days to guard against law-and-order problem.
As per the TRAI mandate, the MSOs were supposed to switch-off the cable connections of those customers, who had not filled-up the CAFs in Kolkata post midnight of 23 August.
Committee of the Association of Cable Operators, Cable Operators Digitalisation convener Swapan Chowdhury said the MSOs have been asked by the TRAI to provide details of TV connections running illegally in the KM area.
Siticable that has disconnected more than 90,000 subscribers till Monday evening, has seen a good response from customers. "We are not switching off the connections of CAF non compliance customers at a go. We are doing it in small numbers - say 15,000," expounded Siticable director (Kolkata) Suresh Sethia.
Manthan Broadband Services which has installed 6.5 lakh to seven lakh set top boxes, had alone disconnected around 30,000 connections on Saturday, said Manthan Broadband Services director Sudip Ghosh.
“Our purpose is not to switch-off the connection. But after snapping say four connections, more than 100 customers have approached from the vicinity,” he added.
Seeing the fast response from the customers, it can be easily assumed that in the KM DAS area, CAFs rate is likely to be 70 per cent to 80 per cent in next six days - seven days, Ghosh predicted.
Den Networks and Hathway Cable and Datacom could not be asked specifically about the connections snapped by them in KM area.
Cable Shilpa Bachao Committee convener Mrinal Chatterjee said instead of disconnecting the TV sets, TRAI should penalise the MSOs and not the customers by asking MSOs to switch off the connection; as the CAFs were not given to the customers on time.
With no official extension notice from the regulatory body, will Kolkata see deactivation of set-top boxes of more and more defaulters at this juncture? Watch this space for the latest updates.
Indian Television Dot Com > Digital Edge >Around 1.80 lakh defaulters in Kolkata face TV blackout as of 26 August
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