The target was to complete the digitisation process in rural areas by Dec 31, 2016 under Phase IV.
A notification in this regard will be issued shortly.
Ministry is also providing additional time for the remaining subscribers in Phase III areas to switch over to digital mode of transmission by Jan 31, 2017 on account of ongoing court proceedings.
In Phase III areas, digitisation in remaining urban areas in the country was to be completed by Dec 31, 2015.
However, some MSO Associations/individuals had moved various High Courts and obtained either extension of cut-off date / stay on the operationalisation of the notifications.
The Ministry will be issuing instructions to all the Broadcasters, Multi System Operators (MSOs), Local Cable Operators (LCOs) and the Authorised Officers to ensure that no analog signals would be transmitted over the cable networks in Phase III areas after Jan 31, 2017. It is also made clear that no further extension of time would be allowed.
The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011 has made it mandatory for switch-over of the existing analogue Cable TV networks to Digital Addressable System (DAS) in four phases. Digital switch-over has already taken place in Phase-I and II areas.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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