This is in response to a consultation paper on the restructuring of cable services, issued by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) last month.
The companies have pitched for mandatory submission of PAN by a cable operator, disclosure of exact number of cable subscribers in an area, and an area-wise mandatory licence for the large cable distribution companies, among others.
According to the Trai paper, currently any citizen can become a cable operator by depositing Rs 500 in the head Post office. Also, there are no guidelines on the minimum qualifications for becoming an operator.
However, the apex body of cable operators