The Union government has finally lifted the ban on direct-to-home television. A ministry of communications notification was issued to this effect on Friday.
A gazette notification to this effect was issued to amend the Radio, Television and Video Cassette Recorder Sets (Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Rules, 1997 thereby removing the prohibition for use of such apparatus in the frequency bands 4800 MHz and above.
The move will now allow media companies to establish, maintain, possess or deal in equipment capable of receiving Ku band television broadcast signals.

Till date cable operators received satellite TV signals in the “C” band which needed a large antenna and hence the need for cable operators who then distributed the signals to their subscribers.

But with the ban being lifted media companies can now transmit signals in what is known as a Ku band. This band eliminates the need for large and cumbersome antennas. Smaller antennas can now be mounted on individual houses. This eliminates the need for cable operators and signals can now be transmitted directly to subscribers. Bureau Report