The Government of Punjab is all set to provide cent percent digitised cable signal to the subscribers, informed Mr. Karan Avtar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary ACS), Information & Public Relations Department Punjab during a meeting with the Members of the State Level Monitoring Committee as well as the nodal officers of District Level Monitoring Committees in Punjab Bhawan, here today.Addressing the meeting, ACS informed that the Government of India (GOI) has embarked on a phase wise approach to digitise the cable sector. This digitisation process has to be enacted in four phases. Four metro cities have been covered under the first phase and 38 important cities under the second phase and the third phase will cover the urban areas of the country, while fourth phase will cover the rural areas.
He informed that in the Phase III of Cable Television digitization in India initiated by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting all the urban areas of Municipal Corporations and Municipalities of Punjab will be covered, by the end of this calendar year. He said that it is mandatory for cable TV operators of State to be a part of digitisation process under the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2011 and all the nodal officers should ensure due compliance.Mr. Rahul Tiwari, Director Public Relations-cum- Member Secretary State Level Monitoring Committee stressed upon the officers to ensure complete digitisation of cable TV network in their respective areas. He asked them to take a comprehensive note of the status of digitisation process of cable TV network in their districts and report the same to the State authorities. He asked them to hold a meeting with the Multi-System Operators (MSOs) and Local Cable Operators to review the status of digitisation, remove the hitches if any and streamline the process so that deadline affixed by the GOI is met.
Giving details about the project, he said that Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has embarked this ambitious programme for complete switch over of Cable television Network to a Digital Addressable System in India. He said that the digitization of the cable TV network essentially means that the existing cable networks will stop carrying analog signals from the specified date of the analog switch off, after which only digital signals would be carried.
In order to receive the digital signals, the consumers will have to install a Set Top Box else they will not be able to receive TV signals after the switch off date. He added that in analog regime, cable system had a carrying capacity of 75 to 80 channels only. All these channels were of Standard definition (SD) quality but the same cable in digital can not only carry up to 600- 700 channels but even High Definition (HD) channels can be carried. Subscribers have choice to choose these large numbers of channels. In analog system, picture and quality was not only poor but was also dependent on the band i.e VHF-1, VHF-2 or UHF in which the channel was carried. In digital system, quality is excellent and being digital and is independent of the band of frequency on which the channel is carried by the MSO. In digital domain, cable subscribers will get the full access to the programme guide and know what programme is currently being played and would be coming up at different times.
Moreover, the subscribers can watch the channels of their choice apart from high picture and sound quality, HD TV channels, recording of videos and enjoy interactive gaming.Mr.Tiwari directed the officials to hold regular meetings of the District Level Monitoring Committees, Redress Grievances of public if any. He also directed them to furnish details of the number of connections, LCOs and MSOs in their districts so that the same may be forwarded to the GOI.The meeting was also attended by Mr. Rajinder Kumar Sharda, AIG Punjab Police as a representative of DGP Police, Mrs. Kamla Devi, Deputy Secretary, Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development, Mr. Puneet Goel, ADO Public Relations and Mr. Ajit Kanwal Singh, Deputy Director Information & Public Relations Department.