The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued a significant order today under Section 12 of the TRAI Act, 1997, mandating all Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to submit Performance Monitoring Reports (PMRs) on a monthly and quarterly basis for broadcasting services. This includes Direct-to-Home (DTH) operators, Multi System Operators (MSOs), Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS) operators, and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) operators.
The new directive comes as part of TRAI’s ongoing commitment to strengthening regulatory oversight and enhancing transparency in the broadcasting and cable TV ecosystem. The move is expected to support better monitoring of service providers’ compliance with various regulations, thereby safeguarding consumer interests and promoting the orderly growth of the sector.
Background and Evolution of Reporting Requirements
The requirement for performance monitoring is not new. TRAI had initially mandated quarterly PMRs from DTH operators through its order dated 24th July 2008. Later in June 2019, the scope of reporting was broadened to include MSOs and HITS operators. The formats for these reports were also revised to align with the evolving regulatory framework.
Given the recent amendments to the Tariff Order, Interconnection Regulations, and Quality of Service Regulations, TRAI has now updated the reporting formats and extended the reporting mandate to include all categories of DPOs, including IPTV operators.
New Reporting Requirements
Under the new order, all DPOs are now required to submit the following:
- Monthly Performance Monitoring Report (M-PMR)
- To be submitted in the format provided in Annexure-I.
- Due within ten days from the end of each month.
- Quarterly Performance Monitoring Report (Q-PMR)
- To be submitted in the format provided in Annexure-II.
- Due within fifteen days from the end of each quarter.
However, there is a notable relaxation: submission of Q-PMRs will be optional for DPOs whose active subscriber base does not exceed 30,000 as of the last day of the preceding financial year. This provision acknowledges the operational limitations of smaller players in the industry while maintaining accountability for larger operators.
Objective and Impact
The introduction of these updated and expanded reporting requirements serves multiple objectives:
- Improved regulatory compliance
- Greater transparency in operations
- Enhanced consumer protection
- Better policy formulation based on reliable data
- Support for sectoral growth by identifying trends and gaps in service delivery
TRAI believes that these measures will lead to a more robust and accountable broadcasting environment, where service providers are regularly monitored for adherence to regulatory norms.