Maldives Broadcasting Commission has granted cable TV service license to PSM. The license was issued in a meeting held in the Commission today. This is the first time cable TV license was issued to the state broadcaster. PSM laws mandate that the company provides cable TV services.
PSM Managing Director Ibrahim Khaleel said the company will carry out service provision in phases and the service will be provided to the whole of Maldives by end of next year.
Broadcom President Mohamed Shaheeb said the Commission had worked to create a high standard rebroadcasting service in the country. He said the three parties licensed to provide cable TV service had not been able to give substantial service in all of the country.
The regulation on rebroadcasting issued by the Commission says that no broadcaster will be given the cable TV license.
Shaheeb said PSM had sought out legal advice when the company wanted to acquire license. He said the PSM law trumped all other related laws and regulations.
Khaleel said the cable TV service will be provided to all islands before end of 2017. He said PSM will not wait to create the necessary infrastructure but will tap into existing infrastructure to provide service. Khaleel said the service will be provided at a cost effective rate and accessible to all.
"PSM will provide this service at the cheapest prices in the country," Khaleel said.
Cable TV licenses had been issued to J-sat and MESCO. MediaNet was formed after the two companies were merged, with the backing of businessmen such as Qasim Ibrahim, ADK Ahmed Nashid and Akram Kamaluddin.
Cable TV was also provided by BNet, but the company was unable to consistently provide the service.
