India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Monday issued an advisory to MSOs to complete regular online updates of the number of active set-top-boxes for their respective networks to facilitate policy making.

“It has been noticed that despite repeated reminders many MultiSystem Operators are not entering/updating their seeding data, i.e. number of active Set-Top Boxes on their network, on Management Information System (MIS) of this Ministry. The information regarding number of cable TV subscribers is considered essential for policy decisions/regulatory issues, etc.,” MIB said in the advisory posted on its website.

It added: “All existing Multi-System Operators are, therefore, advised hereby to immediately enter their seeding data, where it has not been entered, and also to regularly update it every six months on MIS.”

Rule 10A of the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, binds, every MSO to furnish information as may be sought by the federal government within specified period and mandated format.

“Failure to submit/update seeding data on MIS will be considered as violation of the Rule l0A, and may result in cancellation/suspension of MSO registration granted,” the government advisory added.

Meanwhile, the government earlier said that the cumulative number of MSO licences cancelled/surrendeered as of January 2022 stood at 134.

Those whose licences were cancelled in Januray this year included Karnataka’s Vimitel Network Private Limited, Hubli Digital Cable Net & Broadband Services and Bhyraveshwara Cable Network, apart from West Bengal’s Star Club Cable And Broadband Pvt. Ltd.

All the applications were closed as the companies failed to submit requisite documents for registration process to be completed.