The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued a consultation paper on ‘Promoting Local Manufacturing in the Television Broadcasting Sector’ in a bid to replicate the Atmanirbhar Bharat examples in other industries.

Digitalization of the Indian broadcasting sector began in year 2012 and was completed across the country by March 2017. It provided a unique opportunity for the growth of local manufacturers to cater to the demand, TRAI said in a statement adding, the Indian government recently launched initiatives such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’, according the highest priority to transform India into a global design and manufacturing hub.

However, the regulator said, the share of locally manufactured equipment/devices in the broadcasting distribution networks remains quite low.

“Keeping this in view, TRAI has issued a suo-moto consultation paper on ‘Promoting Local Manufacturing in the Television Broadcasting Sector’. The paper aims to identify underlying challenges as well as enabling measures that can facilitate the transition from an import-driven industry to a sustained ‘Atmanirbhar’ ecosystem,” the regulator said.

In the brief to the consultation paper, the regulator pointed out it focuses on television broadcasting through cable, DTH, HITS and IPTV. There are few other transmission mechanisms that may enable broadcast for wider usage like digital terrestrial transmission (DTT), radio broadcast services, and satellite uplinking and downlinking facilities etc.

Quoting from international market research, TRAI said the global market size of broadcasting equipment is estimated to be at US$ 6.2. billion in 2021. The global market size has grown at 6.6 percent CAGR from 2017 to 2020, and an exponential growth to US$ 15 billion by 2031 is expected.

It can be seen that North America comprises a major portion of the global market share for broadcasting equipment, which is estimated to persist till 2031. The U.S. is said to be the biggest contributor and is estimated to have a market size of over US$ 1.6 billion in 2021.

Europe seems to be the second biggest contributor to the global market share, followed by South Asia and Pacific countries. The UK holds a major position in the global market share, which is estimated to be US$ 1.4 billion by 2031.

“These figures reflect the increased access of a wide range of media and communication services along with the growth in convergence in the usage of equipment across sectors for the consumption of content,” the TRAI paper said.