NEW DELHI: With the deadline for Phase III of Digital Addressable System (DAS) over, a new list issued on 2 January, 2016 showed another 45 multi system operators (MSOs) had been given provisional licences after the last list issued up to 15 December.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry website did not display the number of permanent licensees, indicating that the number remains at 230 as it has remained since 20 November.
With the latest list, the number of provisional and permanent licensees has finally crossed 600 to reach 612 from 567 on 15 December, 2015.
The pace appears particularly tardy considering that the Home Ministry had over six months earlier announced that it was aiming to do away with security clearances for MSOs. However, I&B Ministry sources told Indiantelevision.com that nothing had been received in writing in this regard from the Home Ministry.
The number of MSOs was 567 in mid-December, 553 by 24 November and 470 earlier in November, but this increase was merely in those who have provisional licences.
The sources said many MSOs holding provisional licences had not completed certain formalities relating to shareholders and so on.
