SetTop Box Interoperability: Switch Your DTH Service Without Changing Your STB.

Ever since the mobile number portability started the telecom companies started to offer more for less price so that customers will stick to their network, because before if you wanted to change your service provider you'd have no choice to retain your number. Mobile number portability have provided a sigh of relief to the customers, especially those who were feeling betrayed with their current service provider. Imagine if you could do the same with your set top box and DTH operator?

TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India) has issued a statement which confirms that very soon we will be able to change our DTH operator without changing your set top box. “TRAI is scheduled to launch the process for subscribers to shift (or port) to new distribution platform operators (DPOs). We are likely to launch the new portability regime by December this year,” RS Sharma, TRAI chairman. It means that all you have to do is change the card provided with your set top box and you are good to go with new DTH operator.

Usually a new connection would cost between 1500-2000 based on what type of service you chose, so it'll be a sigh of relied to those consumers who are not very well satisfied with their current DTH operator and want to change it. It will surely increase the competition between the service provider and ultimately that means consumers will be flooded with more options to chose from. The system will be as swift as sending an SMS followed by the filling up of a customer application form. 

According to TRAI, under the new technology for interoperability, all operator specific requirements will be embedded in a smart card and generic details in the box. When a subscriber switches to another service provider, he would just require to change the card and not the set-top box. For this may be new cards will be issued by the DTH service provider or the old one may get an update. 

“The move gives more power to the subscribers to choose from the number of options available in the market. It will not only encourage healthy competition among the service providers but will also bring the best cheap offerings for the subscribers,” RS Sharma added.

Let's see what this year end will bring for the consumers. Till next time stay safe stay updated and stay connected.