NEW DELHI: With addition of two more multi-system operators (MSO) from Sikkim and Bihar, the total number, who have been granted permanent registration for 10 years to operate the digital addressable system during the last two months has gone up to 158 as compared to 142 by December-end.

 Most of these MSOs had been given provisional permission earlier. Thus five more MSOs have been granted permission after 5 March till 25 March.

 The MSOs, who have received permission after 5 March are Siti Maurya Cable Network Pvt. Ltd for areas in all districts in the state of Bihar except Madhepura and Arawal; Sikkim Digital Network for Gangtok city and Kabi, Phodong, Mangan, Chunthang, Lachen, Lachung, Ranka, Ranipool, 32 Mile, Singtam, Central Pandam, Namthang, Majitar, Rangpo, Duku, Pakyong, Rorathang, Rhenock, Rongli Aritar, Dalapchand, Legship, Geyzing, Pelling, Tasiding, Yuksom, Soreng, Dentak, Reshi, Sombaria, Daramdin, Melli, Bermoik, Temi, Tarku, Namchi, Jorethang and Romang; International Cable Network for Bhojpur, Buxar and Rohtash; SaiStar Digital Media Private Limited for Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, and Vadodara under Phase II, all other areas under Phase III and Phase IV; and Maharaja Entertainment for pan India in all Phases of DAS.

The list of MSOs, who have been refused permission as on 28 February has gone up to 27 from 26 with one more MSO being denied permission. Some of those in the cancelled list applied as early as March 2013.

MSO sources, however, said that the approved list was in addition to the 140 whose names had been approved earlier in March last year.

The Ministry website mib.nic.in has listed the areas and the date from which the MSOs have been given permission.