Advanced Television

ASSOCHAM: 'Drop customs duty on STBs'

January 29, 2010

ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) has urged Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to withdraw five per cent Customs Duty on STBs in Budget proposals for 2010-11 to provide support to the DTH industry.

Customs Duty on STBs had been exempted in 2006 to provide impetus to industries involved in digitisation of TV services such as DTH, IPTV and Digital cable. However, five per cent Customs Duty on STB was re-imposed in Budget 2009-10.

According to the chamber, the customs duty of five per cent is undue imposition since the government is committed to bring in digitisation of TV services by 2010.

In a representation submitted to the Finance Minister, ASSOCHAM President Dr Swati Piramal said that by supporting DTH and other addressable platforms such as digital cable, IPTV, which use STBs, digitalisation can realistically be achieved in the entire geographical area of the country in a transparent shortest possible time. “Both the urban as well as rural and remote areas should be provided with the same quality of service,” she said.

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