MCOF seeks deferral of NTO 2.0 implementation on corona fears

New Delhi, March 16 (SocialNews.XYZ) Maharashtra Cable Operators Federation has urged Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to defer the implementation of new tariff order (NTO) 2.0 for cable and DTH operators in view of the coronavirus epidemic, till the situation stabilises.

In a letter written to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the cable operators' body has said that business of local cable operators requires "many" visits to customers and the NTO 2.0 would necessitate more such interaction making both cable operators' workers and customers vulnerable to any exposure to the deadly virus.

"The field executives will thus be exposed to many subscribers and vice versa and thus has a higher probability of turning into a passive carrier, if not a patient himself this is ill-advised in the days of coronavirus spread. Almost everyone is resorting to social distancing to contain the spread," said the letter.

Widely known as New Tariff Order 2.0 (NTO 2.0), the new rules require that the MRP of a channel should not be more than Rs 12 per month to be part of the bouquet which was Rs 19 earlier and several market players including TV broadcasters are against the new rules fearing massive losses.

At the heart of their dissatisfaction is the reduction in the maximum retail price (MRP) of a channel that the broadcasters want to be part of a bouquet. MCOF's request also gains significance as several sectors of the economy are facing shutdown due to precautionary measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Around 110 people have been confirmed positive in India with the deadly virus and two deaths have occurred so far.

Source: IANS