MIB clarifies STB's power consumption

Consumers have been apprehensive that set top boxes (STBs) will consume more than 20 watt of power. Their apprehensions  have been put to rest by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting who have confirmed that the set top boxes will in fact consume less electricity than a CFL bulb.

 

The Ministry issued a note stating, “Recently, it has been reported in some sections of the press that digitisation of cable TV would result in huge power consumption by the set top boxes. It has been wrongly informed that the cable STBs consumes 20 watts of power. STBs of a number of makes and models are supplied by Multi System and Local Cable Operators.”

 

To make their point more clear and effective the Ministry released a table showing the power rating of cable set top boxes of different makes. They have clarified how the power consumption in the STB’s is less in the standby mode in comparison to the active mode.

 

Consumers stand to gain with digitization according to the Ministry. They say that consumer will get huge benefits in terms of superior quality of picture and sound, choice of channels from a large bouquet, movies and games on-demand and much more at nominal electricity consumption.

 

They further added that most consumers resort to the standby mode  to reboot and bring back the telecast on screen . The standby mode in the STB in fact helps to facilitate less power consumption.

 

The government’s decision of making  digital cable compulsory is not favourable to all . A Delhi resident, Mr.Rupinder Singh Sodhi has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against the government’s decision. The respondents in the petition are the I&B Ministry, Ministry of Power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.

 

As per the petition STB can have grave implications on the power consumption in the country. The petition argues that a normal STB requires 17 watts of power but the  add on services can increase the electricity requirement to 28 watts. In case of High Definition the consumption of power can be even more it stated.