Deadline extended for stakeholders to submit comments on the draft Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Service DRM-based Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026

To ensure the pace of digital transformation in the telecommunications sector and to make the regulatory framework more effective, the concerned department has recently taken a significant administrative decision. Under this decision, the deadline for stakeholders to submit comments on the “Draft Telecommunications (Broadcasting and Cable) Services DRM-Based Digital Addressable Systems Audit Manual, 2026” has been extended. This step has been taken to provide adequate time to all stakeholders, including cable operators, digital broadcasting providers, technical experts, and consumer organizations, to present their concerns, suggestions, and technical comments on the draft document.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)-based systems are becoming the backbone of the modern telecommunications and broadcasting sector, where digital addressability refers to the technology that enables the individual identification of each consumer or device and the provision of specific services to them. In this context, the audit manual prepared for 2026 is of paramount importance, as it will determine how these complex digital systems will be inspected, monitored, and regulated for compliance. The audit manual is not merely a procedural document but a regulatory standard that ensures the technologies used by service providers adhere to legal and technical standards.

The primary objective of extending the date is to ensure that the stakeholder community has sufficient time to thoroughly understand and comprehensively analyze the draft document. Understanding digital addressable systems requires the industry to consider various technical aspects, data security protocols, and audit processes, necessitating detailed study rather than immediate responses. The decision taken by the department highlights the transparency and participatory approach of the process. The government and regulatory authorities aim for the final manual to be not only legally robust but also commercially practical.

Industry experts believe that by utilizing this additional time, cable and broadcasting companies can identify potential deficiencies in their operational systems and provide suggestions to further streamline the audit process. Additionally, digital security experts can share their views on the strict adherence to DRM protocols, which is extremely crucial in today’s digital age. Through this process, the Telecommunications Department is striving to prepare an audit manual that also accounts for future technical challenges. In the next phase, all submitted comments will be thoroughly studied and incorporated into the draft manual, after which the document will be finalized. This entire process is a significant step towards standard-setting in the telecommunications and broadcasting sector.