SHILLONG: Come January 1, the cable operators in city will switch from the analog network to digital mode as part of the Centre’s initiative to digitize cable TV networks in the country by 2016.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, proprietor of Pearls Cable TV network, Shyam Singhania said that though many cable TV subscribers have come forward to shift from analog to digital network, it was mandatory for customers to shift their network by December 31.
The process of Cable TV digitalization has already started in Shillong and many cable operators in the city have asked their customers to install the set top box at the earliest.
“We are expecting a last minute rush,” Singhania said, adding that the cable operators of Shillong had requested officials from the Ministry of Telecom to extend the last date for the city but they have expressed their inability to do so.
It may be mentioned that the phase III of digitization in the country will be completed by this yearend. Around 12 to 15 crore cable TV subscribers are expected to be benefitted from this mammoth exercise. As per the Government’s plan, in the first two phases, four metro cities – New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata– and 38 cities that have population of over 10 lakh were covered and in phase III and IV, towns, municipal corporations and municipalities will be covered by December 2015.
