The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has published revised migration policy of DTH (direct-to-home) service guidelines to make it easier and more cost effective for the customers.
The revised policy came a week after launching of the country's first DTH TV service, RealVU, by BEXIMCO Communications Limited (BCL), initially in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong.
DTH is a television channel distribution technology, which allows viewers to receive signals transmitted from broadcast satellites through a device installed in their home without the existing cable-based system.
BTRC issued the DTH guidelines in last September. Earlier, the government in December 2013 had awarded two DTH licenses to BEXIMCO Communication Ltd and Buyers Media Ltd. The later one is yet to launch its operation.
The amended guidelines allow customer to switch DTH operator without buying entire Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).
According to the previous guidelines, if a customer wants to switch to another DTH operator, s/he has to buy the entire CPE from the new operator that contains set-top box (STB), cable and dish antenna etc.
According to the revised guidelines, the DTH operator will give option to every subscriber to return STB. On return of STB by the subscriber, the operator will refund depreciated value of the equipments.
As per provision 4.19(a), if a subscriber surrenders his/her connection within the lock-in period, the DTH operator may deduct the depreciation value of STB for the entire lock-in period using straight line method at the rate of 2.5 per cent per month.
"If a subscriber surrenders connection beyond the lock-in period, depreciation on the price will be calculated using straight line method at the rate of 2.5 per cent for every completed month."
The DTH operators will have a lock-in period, the stipulated time when customers are obliged to use the service, which will not be more than 12 months.
The operators have to set up at least four centres in Dhaka, at least two centres in Chittagong and one service centre in every district headquarters. The operators and the distributors will also be bound to provide two years of repair and maintenance without any charge.
Besides, the operators have to publish their offers and schemes on their websites.
Every DTH operator will provide facility for registration of request of the subscribers for surrendering their connection through its call centre, and display on its website. The operator has to ensure refund within fifty days.
The local DTH companies paid Tk 20 million each as license fees in 2013, and they will pay Tk 10 million more to the public exchequer.
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