MANU/TRAI/0045/2022
Department/Board : Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Press Release No. : 39/2022
Date : 15.06.2022
Release of "Test Guide Document for CAS and SMS for Broadcasting Sector"
1. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Department of Telecommunications have released Test Guide Document for Conditional Access Systems (CAS) and Subscriber Management Systems (SMS) for the Broadcasting sector.
2. In order to address various issues arising out of deployment of non-standard CAS and SMS in television broadcasting sector, the Authority notified the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2021 on 11th June 2021, by incorporating new regulation 4A and Schedule-IX in the Interconnection Regulations, 2017.
3. Further, for operationalisation and oversight of the framework for CAS and SMS, the Authority vide order dated 20.09.2021 designated Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) as testing and certification agency for CAS and SMS. Furthermore, after appropriate stakeholder consultation Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) has prepared Test Guide for CAS and SMS in accordance with the requirements notified vide Schedule-IX of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) (Third Amendment) Regulations, 2021.
4. The release of the Test Guide document was held in the august presence of Secretary (MIB) and Secretary (Telecom) who spoke about the efforts of TRAI and TEC in this endeavour and its positive outcomes in the broadcasting sector. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P.D. Vaghela, Chairman, TRAI said, "the release of the Test Guide document is an important step in implementation of the requirements specified under Schedule-IX for technical compliance of CAS and SMS. The roll out of the testing and certification of CAS and SMS will succeed in achieving the desired benefits such as better content security, factual reporting of the subscriber base, reduce revenue loss, eventually leading to improved consumer experience".
5. Representatives from industry including major Broadcasters and Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs), expert bodies like C-DAC, STQC, BECIL, TEC and representatives from media participated in the event.
6. In case of any clarifications/information, Shri Anil Kumar Bhardwaj, Advisor (B&CS), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone: +91-11-23237922 or email ID: advbcs-2@trai.gov.in.
(V. Raghunandan)