FAQs on SET-TOP BOX (STB) & DIGITIZATION

[HOUSE-MD]

STB should be made available in the market just like TV set. So one can choose STB as per his wish from market & buy CAM from any DTH/cable to activate account. But this is possible only after DTH/cable portability.

Exactly.

It has to be the same way mobile companies give simcards that can be used on any phones as per the clients wish and Internet companies allow any modem. People can decide if they want to go for the cheapest kind or costly ones, at-least on the local cable tv.

 

[NinadG]

Exactly.

It has to be the same way mobile companies give simcards that can be used on any phones as per the clients wish and Internet companies allow any modem. People can decide if they want to go for the cheapest kind or costly ones, at-least on the local cable tv.

This will require awareness among users & a campaign for DTH/Cable portability...otherwise people will keep buying STBs from different DTH if they want to switch. Remember how much time Trai/Govt took for implementing mobile portability because of mobile operaters pressure.

 

[Sarkar]

Re: RE: FAQs on SET-TOP BOX (STB) & DIGITIZATION

This will require awareness among users & a campaign for DTH/Cable portability...otherwise people will keep buying STBs from different DTH if they want to switch. Remember how much time Trai/Govt took for implementing mobile portability because of mobile operaters pressure.

It's better not to compare with mobile portability as sim card cost RS 20 where as SD STB cost Rs 2000.

 

[NinadG]

It's better not to compare with mobile portability as sim card cost RS 20 where as SD STB cost Rs 2000.

I am talking about mobile no portability. Portability across different consumer services is bcoming reality even though there is hugh pressure from industry against it. So technically it should be possible to provide DTH/cable portability just like other countries if Trai/Govt decides.

 

[HOUSE-MD]

It's better not to compare with mobile portability as sim card cost RS 20 where as SD STB cost Rs 2000.

Nopes. I was comparing a mobile phone with an STB. Something like seek set-top-box portability.

Eg: Dish TV offers DTH portability to lure migration from other ops

 

[Sarkar]

Nopes. I was comparing a mobile phone with an STB. Something like seek set-top-box portability.

Eg: Dish TV offers DTH portability to lure migration from other ops

But if u are getting Rs 45,000 iphone at a subsidized rate of Rs 3,000, can u expect portability so that u don't have to pay Rs 3,000 for the next 24 months? Same argument holds for STB. All cable/dth operator subsidize their box. Just imagine a customer gets STB at just Rs 599 from Dishtv on the very next day he/she moves to other cable or dth what will happen to Dishtv ? They will run into huge loss. Isn't it ?

 

[aravindan]

Guys

Its simple..

One STB & Receiver (Dish) with option of changing plenty of Smart cards.
Receiver direction can be changed accordingly.

That's the technology affordable for DTH portability.

Impossible is nothing.

 

[HOUSE-MD]

But if u are getting Rs 45,000 iphone at a subsidized rate of Rs 3,000, can u expect portability so that u don't have to pay Rs 3,000 for the next 24 months? Same argument holds for STB. All cable/dth operator subsidize their box. Just imagine a customer gets STB at just Rs 599 from Dishtv on the very next day he/she moves to other cable or dth what will happen to Dishtv ? They will run into huge loss. Isn't it ?

Well, cable tv companies may ask for such special STB to prevent usage on other networks to secure their investments while they offer STB's at subsidized rates.

But STB available in the market (it's users choice if he wants to buy a Rs 45,000 STB or a Rs 4,500 STB) should have multi MSO support and all MSO's should allow such STB's purchased from outside.

This is exactly how mobile companies work, while they give mobile phones that cant be used with other providers they also sell sim cards that support all latest mobile sets.