New Delhi: Cable subscribers will have to pay slightly more from next year with the TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) today (Dec 1, 2004) deciding to revise charges upwards by seven per cent in view of inflation.

The TRAI, which had put a ceiling on charges with respect to both free-to-air and pay channels till December 26 this year, has now decided to review the ceiling.

The ceiling had been put on December 26, 2003. "On the basis of analysis done by the Authority, the inflation adjustment works out to seven per cent. Accordingly it has been decided to issue an amendment order providing for revision in the ceiling on account of inflationary adjustment to be effective from January 1, 2005," a TRAI release said.

The new rates will apply for the payments to be made by consumers, cable operators, multi-system operators for January 2005. The seven per cent increase will apply to the charges, excluding taxes, payable as on December 26, 2003.