Cable TV Digitization To Be Implemented From June, 2017

Nepal Government has asked the cable TV service providers to implement the digitization of their signals by June 2017.  As per the government’s order, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has requested the service providers to confirm that the analog signal being used to provide cable television service is replaced by a digital signal.

The idea of cable TV digitization was first initiated by the government in 2012. They even issued a notice stating to convert the analog cable TV signals to digital by April 28, 2017. But only some of the cable TV service providers have been able to submit their work plan till today. The major reason behind this delay in the digitation process is the lack of infrastructures, the 2015 earthquake, and consequent blockades.

Finally, after an interlude of four long years, the government has directed the cable TV operators to switch to digital from June 2017. The Frequency Management Branch of Ministry of Information and Communication has agreed to this extension taking the issue into account.

The digitation of cable TV is beneficial to the service providers as well as the customers since every operation will become transparent. The users are required to connect their television to a setup box which will help the service providers and government to get the precise data. Unlike the analog system being implemented today, the exact number of television users in the country can be easily known. Moreover, the users will also receive a clear connection along with high definition channels through a digital cable connection. Furthermore, the digitation will also help to boost the national revenue as it will be impossible for service providers to give fabricated information about their subscriber base.

Initially, the government aims to start from the cable operators in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur, Pokhara, Biratnagar and Birgunj followed by the extension of the cable digitization process to 58 other towns by mid-November 2017 and the whole country by mid-April 2018.

Edited By – Awale Sushil