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Technology is available to introduce interoperability among set-top boxes and to make single set-top box compatible with prevalent digital video broadcast signals or compression-MPEG2, MPEG4, HD video, DVB-T (terrestrial), DVB-S (satellite) or DVB-C (cable).

With DTH industry crossing 11 mn subscribers mark in last December, subscribers now desire to get more flexibility. An official of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, at an event recently mentioned that the Bureau of Indian Standards is working on standardization code for interoperability of set-top boxes. Although the current regulation requires interoperability, operators have said that the government itself flouted such norms by allowing the launch of MPEG-4 STBs by DTH players which at present are not compatible with MPEG-2 boxes.

But in this era of technology, compatibility issues will soon become history. Chip companies are aggressively pushing for chipsets that can enable single STB to carry MPEG2, MPEG4 and HDTV signal. An example is STB236 from NXP. This chipset claims to enable OEMs to create affordable digital TV and hybrid IP STBs with the highest SD/HD picture quality. It offers a flexible, advanced platform for all types of STB (terrestrial, cable, satellite, IP) and DVR solutions. It supports the latest high definition (HD) video standards, and helps to create a unique set-top box. The source decoder, PNX833X, incorporates key connectivity protocols such as USB2.0, SATA and Ethernet. The HD version is pin-to-pin compatible to its SD version.

The technology, as we have seen the trend, is obviously not going to limit itself. STB can be considered to be a collection of a number of small functional blocks or modules, with each module performing a well defined function. STB is said to be interoperable if it can receive any service from any network. It is possible to have such an interoperable STB. But except for two of the six DTH operators, none has shown willingness to go for interoperability option as older players and early starters have invested heavily in creating the market for DTH.

Since market forces along with Trai and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting have started talking about interoperability, it would not be easy for reluctant operators to hold interoperability among STBs for a long time. The DTH market will see a new business model, which is expected to be in-line with mobile phone services. Even it can bring in video-on-demand or movie-on-demand cards on the line of calling cards where subscribers will be free to use services offered by different DTH service provider by using just one STB. According to B Sundareshan, senior consultant, Broadcast Engineering Consultants India, said in order to lower the price of STBs they should be based on an 'Open Architecture' and also should make it 'interoperable' across different networks as it will lead to a cost reduction of STBs.

As of now DTH operators sell their own customized STBs, manufactured from third party vendors. The cost of this customized STB checks customers from drifting to other DTH service providers. Market sources expect that interoperability norms will allow third party manufactures to independently sell STBs like in the case of GSM mobile phones. This in turn will invite tough competition among STB manufactures and help in lowering the cost of STBs.

Prasoon Srivastava
prasoons@cybermedia.co.in