NEW DELHI: The Broadcast Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd, which had earlier been directed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) to conduct an audit of Digicable Network in a case filed against IndiaCast, has now been asked to include issues relating to Sun Distribution Services in its audit.
Earlier on 26 May, Sun had been denied permission to carry out an audit of Digicable on an objection raised by Digicable.
However, in a separate order on 29 May, TDSAT had directed BECIL to carry out an audit in a case filed by Digicable against IndiaCast.
The order by TDSAT chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh today came on a miscellaneous application by Sun that BECIL may also address the apprehensions and suspicions of the Sun Distribution as regards the technical system of Digicable Network.
The Tribunal said it found the request reasonable and directed that it would be open to having Sun Distribution Services’ representative present at the time of the audit of the Digicable’s system by BECIL.
In case BECIL withholds the audit on the ground that it may damage the systems of Digicable Network, it would ensure that the data from the Subscriber Management System systems concerning Sun Distribution also may not be manipulated to give any false reports in future.
On 26 May, Digicable had urged TDSAT not to allow Sun to undertake its audit on 24 July on the ground that the respondent was currently engaged in the replacement of its SMS.
In the order of 29 May, BECIL had been asked to check and confirm whether Digicable’s Conditional Access System (CAS) and Subscriber Management System at its different headends are properly integrated and correctly and truly reflect its subscriber base. BECIL had also been asked to record the number of subscribers at the different DAS head-ends. BECIL was asked to conduct the technical audit of Digicable’s local areas with a view to find out whether there are any parallel systems running.
Meanwhile in another case, Sun Distribution was asked not to disconnect the signals to Subodhaya Communications Pvt. Ltd. provided Subodhaya made payment of the amount mentioned in the notice as dues (Rs 8,98,544) within 10 days from today.
Apart from the payment of dues, the petitioner shall continue to make payment of the monthly subscription fees on the basis of invoices raised by the respondent.
Listing the matter for 14 July, the vacation bench of TDSAT said the payments would be without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the parties.
