DTH players seek 8 per cent licence fee waiver from the government

Direct-to-home (DTH) players have requested the government to waive off the 8 per cent licence fee imposed on them in line with a similar proposal for broadband services. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had earlier recommended the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to waive licence fees on broadband services for 5 years. A similar request has been issued by the DTH players now.

According to DTH players, waiving off of the licence fee will enable them to remain competitive in the market.

To this end, the DTH Association approached the Information and Broadcasting Ministry following a proposal under the consideration of the DoT to waive the licence fee on broadband services.

In a letter dated May 11, 2022 sent to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the industry body said the direct-to-home (DTH) volumes have been declining quarter on quarter (Q-o-Q) for a while now and has put hefty investments and employment of over a lakh direct and indirect employees of the sector at risk. The letter was also marked to the DoT.