Government has removed the prohibition on establishment, maintenance, possession or dealing of equipment capable of receiving Ku-band television broadcast signal directly from satellite. A gazette notification to this effect has been issued amending the Radio, Television, and Video Cassette Recorder Sets (Exemption From Licensing Requirements Rules), 1997 removing the prohibition or use of such apparatus in the frequency band 4800 Mhz and above. This comes into effect immediately.

This will help in the introduction of DTH television broadcasting in India. DTH broadcasting becomes possible only when satellite TV transmission takes place in what is known as Ku-band as the antenna used for reception becomes very small and can be mounted easily in homes. Compared to this, so far cable operators were receiving satellite TV signals in what is known as C-band up to 4800 Mhz which needs a large antenna and the TV signals were being distributed via cable to the subscribers. Thus notification issued by the ministry of communications is heralding a new era in the country in the field of direct reception of satellite TV broadcasting by the public.