The government has started monitoring the ban imposed on analogue cable signal across the nation, with the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT) taking the charge to ensure the policy is implemented fully.

The government has made the replacement of analogue television broadcast with digital television signal mandatory, beginning fiscal year 2018-19. Transmission of analogue cable signal has been already barred in Kathmandu Valley.

“Monitoring of cable signal has begun from the eastern part of the country and will gradually shift to the western region,” MoCIT Spokesperson Ram Chandra Dhakal said, adding that the process was started from eastern cities of Biratnagar and Itahari.

The provision has been already implemented across the nation with restrictions on renewal of analogue signal. Teams from the ministery are monitoring service providers and warning those are still continuing with the analogue signal, Dhakal said. “It will take some time for small cable operators in remote areas to adapt the new technology. We will take action if the operators defy the government directive in a long run,” he said.

The government has stated that local operators can acquire franchise rights in partnership with licenced digital cable television service providers to transmit cable signal across the country. The use of digital cable is also expected to boost the government’s revenue collection as the new technology would provide more accurate information on their subscriber base.   

The government in 2012 had initiated the switching process from analog to digital cable service by amending the National Broadcasting Act 1993 and National Telecommunications Act 1995. Based on the amendments, the government directed cable operators to digitise their service within three years. A number of issues like the lack of preparation, the 2015 earthquake and the border blockade delayed its implementation. The government’s initiative is in line with the 2017 deadline set by the International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations (UN) for countries to go digital.