With the new Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) rule coming into effect, the cable charges are likely to be increased from Rs 350 each month to Rs 500 each month. According to the report from Mumbai Mirror, the new directives from TRAI may increase your cable bill by up to Rs 200. As per the new rules from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the customers will have to pay a fixed amount of Rs 130 each month for accessing 100 free-to-air channels. No Intent to Impose Blanket Ban on Messaging Apps: Telecom Secretary.

Moreover, every channel other than free-to-air channels will attract an additional cost that will range from Rs 2 to Rs 19 per channel. However, most popular channels are majorly pay channels and they cost around Rs 15 each.

Mumbai alone comprises of approximately 15 to 20 lakh cable customers and the industry currently generates a revenue of around Rs 900 crore per annum, reports Mumbai Mirror.

“Earlier, depending on the area, cable operators used to charge between Rs 350 and Rs 450 each month and showed around 458 channels. However, due to TRAI's guidelines, broadcasting companies such as Star, Sony, Zee, Colours, etc. won't be able to price their channel in a single bouqet, and will charge for every single channel differently." This would increase the bill at least Rs 500 per month Aphle said in a statement to Mumbai Mirror. Telecom Gear Makers Applaud Trai Recommendations to Boost Local Manufacturing of Equipment.

In addition to this, the cable operators will also have to keep a tabs on the individual customers' preferences and they will have to collect money from the customers in accordance to that. In order to do that they will be requiring additional manpower, which will directly proportional to higher cost, said Aphle.

The MNS cable Sena has submitted a memorandum to TRAI seeking to postpone its decision by a year at least and meanwhile invite suggestions and objections from the customers on suitable mechanism to levy charges.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 13, 2018 12:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).