DAS LICENSE ONLY FOR COMPANIES?
Q: I am a cable operator in Maharashtra, and want to expand my business by becoming an MSO.
Is it true that the DAS MSO license can only be granted to a large private or public limited company? Does this mean that I cannot apply for a Digital MSO license?
Can I also apply for more than 1 Digital MSO license?
V. Pathare, Via WhatsApp & Manish Bidwaik,
MBCN Digital, Wardha, Maharashtra
ANS: DAS MSO Licenses are granted to a Proprietorship, a Partnership, LLP (Limited Liability Partnership), a society or an association (such as a Cable Operator's association), a Private or public limited company.
Hence there is practically no restriction. You can choose whatever is most convenient to you.
If you are setting up the DAS headend personally, you can apply as a Proprietorship.
If 2 or more people are joining together to start the DAS headend, you can apply as a Partnership or a LLP (Limited Liability Partnership). An LLP offers several benefits over a partnership. Check with your accountant.
Check this month's article in the magazine, where we have listed 15 new DAS MSO Licenses issued by the government recently. They have been issued to various such entities.
There is no reason for you to apply for more than one DAS MSO license, because each license allows you to set up multiple Headends and operate anywhere in India.
Of course, if you want to set up 1 headend individually and other with a partner, the second would be a different entity, and hence will have to be under a separate license.