KOLKATA:  The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will not allow any laxity in achieving complete digitisation in phase I markets. After issuing several directions to multi system operators (MSOs) operating in the region, the regulator has now decided to visit all the MSOs to inspect whether the DAS regulations have been maintained, technical issues have been resolved and CAS and SMS are in place.

Industry sources reveal that the TRAI officials inspected the office of Kolkata based MSOs, 18 June onwards.  As part of this, the regulator checked if the details in the subscriber management system (SMS) were duly filled. It can be recalled that TRAI had, a few weeks ago, in a directive, asked the MSOs to keep their SMS updated and also start online pre-paid and post-paid billing facility.

Sources indicate that while all the MSOs were prepared for this inspection, billing in the KM area with more than 32 lakh cable TV homes emerged as the biggest issue for some as customers were not paying as per the bill. “During the inspection, TRAI officials noted non-compliance of the provisions of the regulations by the service providers,” inform the sources.

Siticable Kolkata director Suresh Sethia adds, “It is for the first time that TRAI officials came to our office for auditing. They checked our SMS, CAF, SAF and our agreement with the LCOs.”

“The TRAI officials who visited the offices of the various MSOs in the region for two-three days, questioned them on the nitty-gritty’s of facts and information that were missing,” informs the source.