NEW DELHI: Karnataka State Digital Cable TV Operators Welfare Association and Siti Cable Networks have been asked to resolve their disputes relating to accounts as well as quality of set top boxes (STBS) before a mediation centre by 30 September.

Telecom Disputes Settlement and Arbitration Tribunal (TDSAT) chairman Aftab Alam and member Kuldip Singh however said status quo would be maintained till this exercise is completed.

Furthermore, the Tribunal said any one of the two parties were free to mention the matter before the Tribunal in case it is not satisfied with the mediation.

The Karnataka Association represents 269 cable operators and its counsel Nittin Bhatia claimed that the STBs were of very poor quality and it was adversely affecting the viewing quality of the signals supplied by Siti Cable.

He said that all the cable operators who were part of the petition were willing and prepared to make payment of the monthly subscription fees at the rate of Rs 60 per month. He also stated that the cable operators were also willing to have a reconciliation of accounts and if any dues are found against them at the rate of Rs 60 per month, they would clear all the dues without delay.

Cable operators represented in the petition were also willing to introduce package-based transmission as directed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), as in that case the cable operators would also be entitled to certain benefits.

Siti Cable counsel Upender Thakur said there was a dispute regarding the number of cable operators involved. He also said large sums are due against the cable operators and in any event Siti Cable is bound to follow TRAI’s direction to introduce package-based transmission of channels. 

The Tribunal said the parties should first try to resolve their disputes through mediation. It asked the mediator to try to conclude the matter expeditiously.