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Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
MIB proposes amendments to TV ratings guidelines, inviting more agencies
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) proposed amendments to the policy guidelines for television (TV) rating agencies on Wednesday, which remove certain restrictive provisions for media houses, allowing more players in the TV ratings measurement segment, as per a release by the Press Information Bureau. 'The Ministry (MIB) has invited feedback from stakeholders and the general public within 30 days of the issuance of the draft. The proposed reforms aim to enable fair competition, generate more accurate and representative data, and ensure that the TRP system reflects the diverse and evolving media consumption habits of viewers across the country,' the release said. MIB has also modified clause 1.4 by replacing the earlier requirement that a company's Memorandum of Association (MoA) shall not include any activity like consultancy or advisory services with an easier-to-comply provision. Currently, BARC (Broadcast Audience Research Council) is the organisation that looks after TV viewership and releases television rating points (TRP). The issue arises as BARC does not track trends in connected TV (CTV) platforms, which have seen a rise in viewership in recent years. MIB's moves aim to democratise and modernise the television audience measurement ecosystem in India, the release stated. 'The proposed amendments aim to allow multiple agencies to foster healthy competition, bring in new technologies, and provide more reliable and representative data, especially for connected TV platforms. As viewing habits evolve, so must the way we measure them. The amendments will also enable more investments from broadcasters, advertisers, and other stakeholders to improve rating technology and infrastructure. With these reforms, India aims to build a more transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven TV rating ecosystem,' the release stated. In the digital era, consumers have various options to consume content through several mediums. This comes after the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman, Anil Lahoti, had said that Trai has recommended revamping the audience measurement system to allow multiple agencies to offer more reliable data. He had also mentioned that this change would support better advertising pricing in the industry at the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in May.
Mint
12-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Your building's digital infra will be rated. But who will pay?
A pitched battle has ensued between telecom operators and real estate developers over who should pay to get digital infrastructure in buildings rated and handle its maintenance, in the backdrop of a new digital connectivity rating system being prepared by India's telecom regulator. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is working on a framework wherein a standard method to evaluate digital connectivity inside properties—aimed at ensuring strong indoor mobile and internet signals—will be notified. Last month, the regulator released for consultation a draft manual for Assessment of Digital Connectivity under Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024. Also read | Why govt's Vodafone Idea stake will hasten telecom tariff hikes Telcos, represented by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), argue that property managers–read: real estate developers and owners–should bear the full cost and compliance burden, including maintenance and obtaining the building rating. On the other hand, real estate companies, represented by Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (APREA), have asked Trai to remove these responsibilities from their scope, saying the infrastructure should be owned, operated, and maintained by the digital connectivity infrastructure providers themselves. COAI counts Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea as its members. APREA counts Anarock, Brookfield, DLF, BlackRock, Brookfield, DLF as its members. To be sure, poor in-building connectivity has become a growing concern for consumers, who often struggle with weak mobile signals and unreliable internet access inside homes, offices, and commercial complexes — despite strong coverage outside. The ratings will enable consumers to make informed decisions when selecting the area of their residence, offices, or at airports, and other areas. 'This is very important as far as the telecom quality is concerned," Trai chairman Anil Lahoti was quoted as saying by PTI in a recent interview. 'The provision of in-building solution inside the building premises will complement the network being provided outside by the telecom service providers." In its draft module, Trai said property managers will be responsible for application for ratings of buildings, documentation and compliance, maintenance of digital connectivity infrastructure, and consumer communication and tenant management. Digital connectivity rating agencies (DCRAs) will be registered with Trai and will evaluate and award ratings for property under the regulations. Disagreement's cause Who will pay for the ratings is what has caused the disagreement. 'Property managers are the primary beneficiaries of building ratings—gaining enhanced marketability, the ability to command premium rents, improved tenant retention—there is a compelling case for them to bear the costs associated with rating of buildings," the COAI told Trai in its submission on the draft module, adding that it should be incumbent upon the property manager to fund and execute the rating process while proactively securing and maintaining all necessary digital infrastructure—including provisions for telecom operators access—to achieve and sustain a certified rating. In fact, telecom operators want Trai to include in the framework that the responsibility for bearing the cost of establishing network infrastructure, power and associated equipment should rest with the property manager. Also read | Trai, telecom companies spar over data demand However, real estate developers want Trai to delete the clause that documentation and compliance is a responsibility of property managers. 'Property manager may not own the DCI (digital connectivity infrastructure) and may only facilitate in implementing a digital connectivity infrastructure within a building, owing to the various regulations associated with deployment of a Digital Connectivity Infrastructure," APREA said in its submission to Trai. 'Moreover, a Property Manager is essentially a person (Developer) and/or a Property Management firm which looks into account the various aspects of Building infrastructure including Civil, Electrical, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), Firefighting, Plumbing, Lifts, Security Managementetc., but may not possess the capabilities of complex telecom infrastructure architecture," it added. Assurance to consumers Telecom operators argued that better digital infrastructure and connectivity would give assurance to consumers while assessing property for purchase or use. 'This will help the Property Managers of the said building/premises to build moretrust with the consumers and also influence the consumer's choices," they said, adding that property managers can use the same to market their properties. As per the framework proposed by Trai, the buildings will be rated on diverse connectivity options, such as fibre optic networks, wifi, cellular connectivity and satellite broadband, based on their capability to provide seamless indoor and outdoor network coverage. Also read | Next-gen telecom tech to get ₹1,000-crore yearly R&D boost under telecom policy Even as Trai has proposed a framework, telecom operators want the regulator to form a committee consisting of representatives from academia, ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA), department of telecommunications (DoT), telecom operators, etc, to advise on the matter related to proliferation, popularisation and adoption of rating framework. 'We reiterate our submission that the DCI implementation should be backed by the law. For instance, RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) Act does not cover DCI at present. Mandating digital connectivity inside the buildings and ensuring that this is available to all licensed Telecom Service Providers on non-discriminatory basis should be incorporated in the Model builder-buyer agreement prescribed by RERA for covering it under the jurisdiction of this Act and its enforceability by the RERA," Jio wrote in a separate submission to Trai on the subject. More disagreements Notably, telecom operators have also expressed concerns over compliance requirements in the draft framework proposed. In one of the rating criteria, Trai has given weightage to minimum download speed of 10 Mbps for 4G or 100 Mbps for 5G technology inside buildings. The telecom operators, however, have opposed the same stating that the speed metrics should be modified in accordance with an already stated criteria. 'For 4G, throughput equal to or better than 2 Mbps, successful file download test cases in percentage. For 5G, 100 MB size is to be downloaded on each selected test location within 5 minutes," Airtel said in its response to Trai. Continuing disagreements over the use of public wifi, telecom operators have also asked Trai to either remove the same from the criteria while assessing the ratings of the buildings or reduce its weightage. 'With advanced mobile technologies (4G/5G) providing good data speed, the very utility of using public Wi-Fi for data consumption is diminishing and the rating framework should not encourage any inefficiencies. Further, if mobile coverage is addressed inside buildings/premises, there will be no need left for users to latch to public Wi-Fi," COAI said. Also read | MoS Telecom asks India Post to make DIGIPIN self-financing model Among other things, telecom operators want Trai to implement the building ratings system in phases. For instance, certain buildings with high public footfalls such as airports, ports, railway stations, public transport stations, bus stations, large shopping complexes, industrial estates, major market areas, among others, can be asked to have rating compliance within two years of issue of the regulatory framework by TRAI or two years from obtaining occupancy certificate,whichever is later. In 2023, Trai had also submitted its recommendations to the government on 'Rating of Buildings or Areas for Digital Connectivity', to create an ecosystem for building of DCI as a part of any development activity. Trai has also released the regulation Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024 in October last year to bring a framework for rating of properties for digital connectivity.
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Trai likely to adjust cable TV rules for clearer business picture
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) is 'reviewing and critically examining' the regulatory framework governing the cable television (TV) industry (also known as linear TV) to enhance ease of doing business. Anil Lahoti, chairman of Trai, said on the sidelines of the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) that there is a wide 'regulatory disparity' between different broadcasting platforms — namely, linear TV and over-the-top (OTT) services. This follows Trai's regulatory review in 2024 aimed at giving the cable TV sector 'requisite freedom while protecting consumer interests and safeguarding smaller players in the value chain'. 'While we welcome technological advancements that offer a better audio-video experience for consumers, we want to avoid a scenario where regulation creates an uneven playing field, favouring one medium over another,' he said. Lahoti said that in its recent review, Trai reassessed whether several existing regulations were still necessary for the cable TV industry. 'We've either left several aspects to the discretion of the industry or widened the scope of the rules because we felt strict regulation wasn't required in those areas. The real divergence is with fast-channel OTT, where regulations are relatively light, whereas linear TV is still tightly governed. That's where we need to strike a balance,' he said. In his keynote address at WAVES, Lahoti also said Trai has recommended revamping the audience measurement system to allow multiple agencies to offer more reliable data. This change, he said, would also support better ad pricing. Trai is now working towards balanced regulations that consider the needs of all stakeholders. 'Entities at the top of the pyramid typically seek fewer restrictions and greater freedom. But as we (Trai) move down the pyramid — to local cable operators or consumers — the feedback we receive is that they ask for more and more regulation,' he said. Trai is also consulting on the rollout of digital radio broadcasting in India and is expected to implement a policy road map soon.
