Two of India’s largest DTH pay-TV operators, TataSky and Airtel Digital TV, have lodged actions against the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) arguing that new tariff and interconnection regulations laid out by TRAI on March 3rd are unfair.

The operators’ main complaint is that TRAI’s proposed rules treat “unequals as equals” and requires the same monthly fees and/or discounts to apply to all-comers regardless of size or importance. The pair also contend that such restrictions are “unconstitutional”. The additionally argue that the new rules will impede their rights to negotiate separately negotiated deals.

TRAI new suite of rules are due to come into force from September 1^st.

The high court says that TRAI must file its response by mid-June, in order that TataSky and Airtel can come back with their counter-arguments on July 25^th.

Categories: Articles, Broadcast, DTH/Satellite