MUMBAI: MARC Group in its latest report entitled "Smart Card Industry in India: SIM, Identity, Banking, Transport, Healthcare, Pay TV, Loyalty & PDS" expects India‘s Pay TV market to create a demand of 140 million smart cards during 2013-2018. Findings from the report suggest that with 155 million subscriber households in 2012, India is the third largest TV market after the US and China. TV signals in India are currently distributed in analogue as well as in digital and terrestrial formats. Most cable operators in the country are providing analogue TV service while all DTH operators are providing a digital TV service.

The report found that the government of India amended the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act in October 2011 to announce implementation of a phase-wise digitisation programme of pay TV services throughout the country. Findings from the report suggest that this would result in all cable TV households to receive digital TV signals through a set top box (STB). As part of digitisation, every cable operator will be legally bound to transmit digital signals, which can be received at the subscriber‘s home only through a STB. Since smart cards are required in each STB, the growth in STB sales is expected to create a huge opportunity for smart cards in India.

This study, an updated and far more extensive and analytical version of the 2011 study, provides and draws upon a comprehensive analysis of every major smart card segment in India. Key metrics and events such as smart card requirements, current and future volume and value demand, key smart card projects, project implementation timelines, success and risk factors, costs, etc have been comprehensively analysed in this report. This study aims to serve as a guide for investors, researchers, consultants, marketing strategists, and all those who are planning to foray into the Indian smart cards market in some form or the other.