Consumers be the king..! TRAI directs DTH operators to comply with the framework amid user complaints

New Delhi, April 25: Redressing over the consumer complaints pertaining to the operator’s specific offering and grievances, the Telecom regulator TRAI has directed the Dish TV India to comply with the provisions of the new framework for broadcasting and cable TV services.

  

Promising strict action against those cable TV and direct to home (DTH) players who are found violating its new tariff order and regulatory regime, TRAI had earlier this week pulled up Bharti Telemedia on similar grounds.

 

As per complaints, the DTH operator is forcefully offering a bouquet of free to air channels with no choice to subscribers and without their consent, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which is also the broadcast regulator, said in a directive on its website.

 

TRAI Chairman R S Sharma had earlier this week said that the regulator will shortly begin audit of subscriber management and other IT systems of errant operators. Sharma had said consumer choice and consumer interest are non-negotiable and cannot be compromised.

 

“This is in addition to the channels opted by the subscribers and the following message is being displayed: This is a free to air bouquet at no extra charge. If you have selected any pay channel, then this bouquet will not impact your network capacity fee,” TRAI said.

 

It added that most of the times, the consumers are not able to contact the toll free number of Dish TV India to express their grievance. “Now, therefore, the authority, in exercise of its power, directs Dish TV India to resolve the issues and report compliance within five days from the date of issue of this direction,” TRAI said in its directive issued on Wednesday.