No govt hurdle to DTH launch seen

NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel is ready to enter the media space through direct to home (DTH) broadcasting and internet protocol television (IPTV) services.

Even as there have been reports of Bharti being under government scrutiny for violation of FDI norms in the DTH space, the company top management on Thursday said, “We are fully compliant with all the guidelines.”

Bharti Telemedia Services president Atul Bindal told DNA Money: “I am in constant dialogue with the government.” He does not anticipate any government hurdle to starting services.

On whether there was a show-cause notice to the company on FDI related matters, Bindal said some clarifications were sought by the government, which have been given.
In an analysts’ call later in the day, Bharti officials said that the company’s DTH licence is safe.

The company is expected to start its DTH operations this year. It is already doing a pilot run of the service.