The foreign direct investment (FDI) cap in news channels and FM radios should be hiked from current 26 per cent to 49 per cent, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed.

The telecom regulator also recommended that the FDI limit in broadcast carriage services like cable TV, direct-to-home (DTH), mobile TV, Teleport and HITS should be raised from current limit of 74 per cent to 100 per cent.

TRAI made the aforementioned proposals after receiving industry stakeholders' feedback on a consultation paper that was released by the regulator on July 30 this year.

As the proposed FDI limits are higher than 49 per cent, they would require the approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

In addition, the telecom regulator proposed maintaining of status quo with regard to FDI caps for up-linking of non-news and current affairs television channels and down-linking of television channels, subject to FIPB's approval. Currently, all these segments can avail 100 per cent FDI.

Times Television Network CEO Sunil Lulla welcomed the proposals saying, "We applaud Trai for endorsing the industry's view. We believe capital investment will enable growth and expansion in cable and news television."

Trai's proposals are in line with those of a committee led by economic affairs secretary Arvind Mayaram that also in June this year recommended hiking FDI caps for TV news and FM Radio to 49 per cent and for broadcast carriage services to 100 per cent.