India Draws Closer to Full Cable TV Digitisation

The 31 December 2015 deadline of Phase III of the cable TV digitisation programme in India will not be extended. Urban areas in India must switch to the digital addressable system for cable TV before the end of the year. Thereafter, transmission of analogue signals or re-transmission of analogue channels in urban areas will not be permitted.

Broadcasters, DTH operators and multi-system operators have been asked to conduct consumer awareness programmes about the digitisation programme and the need for installing set-top boxes. It is expected that the cable TV digitisation programme will be completed in India by 31 December 2016.