TRAI directs DPOs to allow customers to add/drop channels through SMS

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed distribution platform operators (DPOs) to enable the facility of adding and dropping channels through SMS. The authority has also asked DPOs to display information on Channel No. 199 about MRP of channels and bouquets.

The TRAI has directed that all DPOs to display information on the Channel No. 999 as per format within 15 days from the issue of this letter and (b) provide the facility of ADD/DROP of channels to the subscribers through SMS as per format within 15 days of issue of this letter.

Further, The ADD/DROP request of the subscriber shall be executed not later than seventy-two hours from the receipt of request and the subscriber to be charged on pro-rata basis only for the number of days for which, the services have been availed by him.

The DPOs have to send the compliance report to the TRAI by 31.10.2019. TRAI has issued the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Standards of Quality of Service and Subscriber Protection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017 (QoS Regulations, 2017).

The regulator noted that though some DPOs are providing facility of ADD/DROP of channels through missed called service or through SMS, however, this facility is not available across all DPOs. Similarly, there is a lot of variation on the information being displayed on Channel No. 999 and in many cases important information is generally missing.

It further stated that templates of information to be displayed on Channel No. 999 were shared with the DPOs, vide letter dated 20th September 2019 seeking comments of the DPOs. Some DPOs submitted their comments. Further, a meeting was held on 26th September 2019 to discuss these templates.

The comments/suggestions received from the DPOs were analysed by the TRAI and after analysing the comments of the DPOs and the discussion thereto, the authority finalized the format of information to be displayed on channel no 999.

The templates for ADD /DROP facility of channels were also shared with DPOs and the comments/suggestions have been analysed. Based on the discussion and comments of DPOs, standard formats for SMS facility are also finalised.