SC dismisses Ortel's plea on cable monopoly issue

The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of Ortel Communications Ltd, major cable operator in Orissa, challenging the Orissa High Court's judgement that ruled against the state government's policy which allowed only one cable on an electric pole. A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat refused to interfere with the high court order that held against the state government's 'one pole one cable' policy. Ortel is a major private player in Orissa which provides cable TV, broadband internet and telephony services.

The apex court's decision is likely to end Ortel's over seven years virtual monopoly over distributing cable network by using electric poles. The high court had passed the judgement on a petition filed by rival multi-system operator (MSO) Variety Entertainment (Pvt) Ltd, a joint venture between ETV and Zee TV, which said that the policy to allow one operator to use an electric pole for its cable distribution network amounted to creating a monopoly for providing network connection to consumers, according to media reports.