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Frequently Asked Questions - Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems Frequently Asked

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1. What is Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems (DAS)?

2. Who are the service providers in DAS?

3. How DAS is different from the existing cable TV system?

4. How DAS is different from Cable TV service in CAS notified area?

5. How DAS is different from DTH service?

6. Is it compulsory for the consumer to take the services of DAS? Or, he can continue with the existing
analog Cable TV service?

7. What are the advantages of DAS for the consumers?

8. What is to be done for availing the services in DAS? What changes will be required at consumers end?

9. What are mandatory channels in DAS?

10. Can I have both DTH and DAS?

11. What is to be done for availing the services in DAS? What changes will be required at consumers end?

Q 1. What is Digital Addressable Cable TV Systems (DAS)?

A. DAS is a cable TV service in which TV channels are sent through cable TV network in digital and encrypted form. Only
authorised users can receive channels using a Set-Top-Box(STB) and TV set. The authorization is given by the service
provider. This system is able to carry large number of TV channels, radio services and other value added services. In this
system the consumers can choose channels/ services of their choice and pay only for the same.
Q 2. Who are the service providers in DAS?
A. The Multi-System Operator (MSO) and its linked local cable operators (LCOs) are the service providers in DAS
(hereinafter referred as cable operators).
Q 3. How DAS is different from the existing cable TV system?
A. The existing cable TV system is predominately analog in nature. In case of analog cable TV system, the TV channels
are sent in analog and unencrypted form. The analog cable TV system can carry up to 80-100 TV channels. In this
system the consumers do not have an option to choose channels/services of their choice and pay accordingly, rather
they have to pay for the entire bouquet of channels offered by the cable operator. On the other hand, the capacity of a
DAS is much higher than the existing analog cable TV system. A consumer under DAS will be able to choose
channels/services of his choice and pay accordingly. A Set-Top-Box (STB) is required along with the TV set for receiving
the channels in DAS.
Q 4. How DAS is different from Cable TV service in CAS notified area?
A. DAS is a fully digital addressable system whereas CAS is not. In CAS notified area, the free-to-air (FTA) channels are
carried over the network in analog form while the pay channels are carried in encrypted and digitally modulated form for
which a STB is required. While in DAS all the channels (pay as well as FTA) carried over the network are encrypted and
digitally modulated and a STB is required for receiving both FTA and pay channels.
Q 5. How DAS is different from DTH service?
A. Although both are digital addressable systems, in DTH service, TV channels are directly received by consumer from
satellite using small dish antennas located at customer premise. However, in DAS TV signals reach consumer through
the cable network. The DAS is capable of carrying interactive value added service, triple play services (Video + Audio
+Data), broadband etc. through the same cable TV network.
Q 6. Is it compulsory for the consumer to take the services of DAS? Or, he can continue with the existing
analog Cable TV service?
A. The Government has notified that it is obligatory for every cable operator to transmit or re-transmit programmes of any
channel in an encrypted form through a digital addressable system in the entire country, in 4 phases as per the schedule

given below:- Phase I - 31th Oct 2012: National Capital Territory of Delhi, Municipal Council of Greater Mumbai area,
Kolkata Metropolitan area and Chennai Metropolitan area ; Phase II - 31st March 2013: 38 Cities with a population of
more than one million; Phase III - 30th September 2014: All other urban areas (Municipal Corp./ Municipalities) except
cities/ towns/ areas specified for the corresponding Phase I and Phase-II above, and Phase IV- 31st December 2014:
Rest of India. After complete switchover, the cable TV services will be available only through digital addressable Systems
Q 7. What are the advantages of DAS for the consumers?
A. The DAS offers following benefits to the consumer. Consumer will get better signal quality for all the channels.
Consumer will get more choice of channels. DAS supports HD and 3D channels. Consumers can choose the channels
on a-la-carte (individual) basis and pay only for the channels chosen. DAS can offer value added services such as triple
play with broadband, movie on demand etc. Electronic programme guide (EPG) can be provided in DAS which makes it
easy for the consumer to select a particular channel or service in simple user friendly manner. These features, amongst
the others provide a much improved viewing experience to the consumers.
Q 8. What is to be done for availing the services in DAS? What changes will be required at consumers end?
A. 8. What is to be done for availing the services in DAS? What changes will be required at consumers end? For getting
the services in DAS an additional piece of equipment called Set-Top Box (STB) is required along with TV set. This set top
box will facilitate the consumer to access the encrypted digital television signal carried over DAS.
Q 9. What are mandatory channels in DAS?
A. It shall be mandatory for cable operators to transmit or retransmit the channels of Doordarshan required to be
transmitted compulsorily under section 8 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (7 of 1995),as amended
from time to time, to each subscriber on its network. Currently, the channels viz. DD-1, DD-News, DD- Regional
(concerned region), DD-Rajya Sabha DD-Sports, DD-Urdu, Gyandarshan and Lok-Sabha are required to be transmitted
compulsorily to each subscriber on its network.
Q 10. Can I have both DTH and DAS?
A. DTH and DAS are two independent different platforms. The consumer have option to avail both the services at his
option.
Q 11. What is to be done for availing the services in DAS? What changes will be required at consumers end?
A. For getting the services in DAS an additional piece of equipment called Set-Top Box (STB) is required along with TV
set. This set top box will facilitate the consumer to access the encrypted digital television signal carried over DAS.

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Last Updated On :18/10/2013

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