Relief For Tata Sky Customers: TRAI Gives Temporary Respite To DTH Operator Over Tariff Order Implementation

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has assured DTH operator, Tata Sky that it will not be pursuing any coercive action against them, the Television Post reports. The assurance comes as a breather to Tata Sky from the Delhi High Court.

In May last year, the DTH operator had challenged the Telecom body’s tariff order and interconnection regulation. The hearing was supposed to be held in the Delhi HC today (20 December) but has been rescheduled for 10 January 2019.

Tata Sky, during the hearing, requested the court to restrain the TRAI from any coercive action. The TRAI counsel, responding to the request said that the body would not take any coercive action against them, until the next hearing. Despite assurance, the TRAI counsel also insists Tata Sky implement the tariff order and regulation.

Tata Sky appeals that the TRAI order and regulations violate the Article 19(1)(G) of the constitution of India, which ensures citizens “to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business”.

The new framework from the regulator treats un-equals as equals by prescribing the same monthly rentals and discounts for DTH operators and multi-system operators (MSOs), Tata Sky argues.

Tata Sky is also fighting against the rule of carriage fee and must carry clause. They argue that the new regulations will severely hinder the right to do a mutually negotiated agreement.

The DTH operator also claimed that the new regulation will completely revamp the DTH operator’s business models, despite the fact that the overall framework is running smoothly.