Breaking DTH/Cable TV Set Top Box Portability to be a reality finally by Dec 2019: TRAI

[Esmail]

I think present box specially cardless box it is not possible,they may insist DTH operators to sell interoparatable boxes when new connections are taken after this rule comes to effect

The only way portability can truly be achieved in DTH is by the new operator offering a free exchange of the set top box on a like to like basis (refurbished HD STB for used HD STB and refurbished SD STB for used SD STB) and realignment of the dish antenna to the direction of the new operators satellite. And at the end of the month all DTH operators can return reach other's STB to the respective companies in return for their own STB and the remaining difference in cash in cases where there is an asymmetric exchange ratio.
Any attempt by trai to make the existing boxes of one operator compatible with another operator's signal by using cam cards and modifying encryption will fall flat on it's face and trai will eventually settle with the exchange method to achieve portability. That's how I see it happening, will wait and see how it actually unfolds.

 

[Velu61]

Now the STBs are sold at subsidized rates. The actual cost is more than the selling cost. Eg: They can't sell HD STBs for Rs 1500/= which includes Dish, LNB and cable (Rs 400) and installation charges (Rs 250). DTH companies doing this only to attract customers in to their web. If the STB portability comes in to force, all the boxes' price will go up. TRAI as usual doing "good" thing to the users as done earlier in new tariff for DTH services.

 

[gowrishankar]

Ha!was waiting for it...will change my tatasky HD DVR smart card with airtel

 

[KGF]

Old STBs will not come under this. Going forward all new STBs will be mandated to be compatible with all operators and that will push price of the STBs up, but we can jump to any operator then and not hold onto one operator thinking we have invested 2k+ already and not ready to invest 2k+ again for new operator.

 

[dino29]

Well regarding encryption it is not major issue, like dish added conax encryption on ST2 to enable its south indian subscribers shift there similarly DTH operators can add different encryption to accommodate different STB types. Conax, NDS , Irdeto , and 1 or 2 others r handful of providers who r having tie up with most of dth operators.

 

[Amit1079]

Well regarding encryption it is not major issue, like dish added conax encryption on ST2 to enable its south indian subscribers shift there similarly DTH operators can add different encryption to accommodate different STB types. Conax, NDS , Irdeto , and 1 or 2 others r handful of providers who r having tie up with most of dth operators.

Bro u mean old STB's also can b ported?

 

[dino29]

Bro u mean old STB's also can b ported?

Yes

 

[stiwari]

May be they will exchange other company set top box with refurbished box free of cost on porting with 6 months to one year lock-in on advance payment

 

[Abhinav]

Tata Sky pointed out several problems in Set top box interoperability.

• Third party manufacturers and developers won't be able to maintain the same security standards

• Increase in prices and no technical support for STBs from operator side would be bad for consumers

• It will adversely affect innovation. Interoperability would not support the innovations even on standard features which includes EPG in multiple languages and interactive services.

• Many technical problems like different compression standards (MPEG-4, HEVEC, etc) and different hardware cause serious compatibility issue.

Tata Sky requests TRAI to not introduce set-top box interoperability | DreamDTH

 

[KGF]

Tata Sky pointed out several problems in Set top box interoperability.

• Third party manufacturers and developers won't be able to maintain the same security standards

• Increase in prices and no technical support for STBs from operator side would be bad for consumers

• It will adversely affect innovation. Interoperability would not support the innovations even on standard features which includes EPG in multiple languages and interactive services.

• Many technical problems like different compression standards (MPEG-4, HEVEC, etc) and different hardware cause serious compatibility issue.

Tata Sky requests TRAI to not introduce set-top box interoperability | DreamDTH

I say BS.
They just don't wanna give up subscriber sheep easily.
Android development is there for everyone to see.
And MP4, HEVC 264 and 265 run on almost all systems now.
Interoperability will drive innovation. Now they are all content knowing that subscribers won't shift due to high costs of the STBs.