MIB crackdown sees no. of MSOs drop by 155 from 2023

As per the list released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, registrations of over 1,000 MSOs have either been cancelled or they have been surrendered in the last 10 years

by Aditi Gupta
Published: Dec 16, 2024 1:44 PM | 1 min read

The government's crackdown on the Multi-System Operator (MSO) industry has led to a significant decline in the number of registered operators. As of November 2024, only 843 MSOs remain operational, a sharp drop from the 998 registered last year.

As per the list released by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, registrations of over 1,000 MSOs have either been cancelled or they have been surrendered in the last 10 years.

The ministry has cited non-compliance and non-operational status as the primary reasons for the cancellations.

Also, registration applications of around 114 MSOs have been rejected by the ministry in the last decade.

In August 2024, the number of registered MSOs stood at 850. However, the ministry has since cancelled licences of 7 more MSOs, bringing the current total to 843. The decline in MSO numbers reflects a more stringent regulatory environment. This trend is expected to continue as the government aims to streamline the industry and improve consumer experience, said an industry expert.

It's worth noting that despite the decline in MSOs, some large players continue to dominate the market.

As of December 31, 2023, 11 MSOs and 1 HITS operator had a subscriber base exceeding one million. GTPL Hathway remained the top player with over 8 million subscribers.

The government's focus on consolidation and stricter regulation is likely to reshape the MSO landscape in the coming years. Smaller players may face challenges, while larger operators are expected to benefit from increased market share and scale.