The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has been busy revamping new regulations in the DTH and cable TV industry for a while now. In early 2019, we saw the TRAI coming up with a new set of regulations to optimise the pricing for all the stakeholders. While that regulation change is still being debated, the TRAI has recently floated a new regulation for all DTH operators to mandate a new Know Your Customer (KYC) process for all DTH subscribers.
The new KYC process has been mandated for all new as well as existing DTH subscribers in the country. For new subscribers, they will have to go through the entire KYC process similar to subscribing to a new telecom connection. A representative from the DTH operator will carry out the necessary processes for verification and post that, the installation will be executed. For existing customers, a deadline of two years has been implemented to get the KYC process done.
If you are subscribed to a DTH connection, then here are a couple of things you need to know.
New DTH KYC regulations: What you need to know
–The decision to implement the new KYC procedure for all DTH subscribers was under consultation from a long time. The decision to go ahead with the KYC process was taken after a nod from all the stakeholders in the industry.
–The new KYC process will require the DTH representative to conduct a KYC process before installing the Set-Top Box. The DTH representative will ensure that the Set-Top Box is installed on the same address as the one mentioned in the Customer Application Form. The person will also verify the details and the operator will need to maintain the record of the installation as well.
–To verify the identity of the subscribers, the operator will have to use an OTP password-based system with the registered mobile number. Once the OTP verification is done, only then can the operator go ahead with the installation of the box.
–For those subscribers who don’t have a mobile phone connection, the operator will need to collect some other Proof of Identity in either physical or digital form. For existing DTH subscribers who don’t have a mobile number connected to the DTH connection, they will have to do the linking with a mobile number within a period of two years.
–While the operator is allowed to collect verification documents from the subscriber, the TRAI doesn’t allow the operator to collect location data with special location-based services from the Set-Top Boxes.
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