THE Multi-System Operators (MSO) Alliance and some independent cableoperators are learnt to have written to the prime minister requesting early approval of the digitalisation plan recommended by Trai to extend Conditional Access System (CAS) to 55 cities.

The policy is pending with government for some time now. The communication has also stressed on the need to notify the policy on head-end-in-the-sky (HITS) fast among other issues.

As per industry sources, MSOs and cable operators have been asking the government to extend CAS for a level playing field with the other addressable systems. The cable industry is facing immense pressure from direct-to-home (DTH) players especially with telcos like Reliance ADAG flexing their muscles to grab subscribers.