Convinced that there would be no shortage of set-top boxes for the first phase, the government is likely to issue a notification in a day or two for a zone-wise rollout of the conditional access system from September 1 in three metros, even as it may be implemented in Chennai in one go.

South Delhi, South Mumbai, one zone of Kolkata and the whole of Chennai are likely to get the first taste of CAS, the information and broadcasting ministry sources said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The ministry is likely to issue one notification for the zone-wise roll out for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, and another for Chennai.

Sources said the zone to be notified in Kolkata for the first phase was still being worked on.

In Chennai, where estimates show a low demand for the set-top boxes (because of Hindi pay channels not being popular), its availability has been put at 50,000, which may be enough.

While South Delhi has 2.4 lakh cable homes and an estimated requirement of 40,000-45,000 set-top boxes, South Mumbai has 4.10 lakh cable subscribers and the requirement of set-top boxes could be as high as 80-90 per cent.

Sources said nearly 3 lakh set-top boxes were expected to arrive by July-end, taking care of the first phase and of this 1.25 lakh have already been imported.

Meanwhile, Star is understood to have conveyed to the government that it was ready to fall in line with the proposal of Rs 72 plus taxes to all consumers from August 1 and beyond for three months in the non-CAS notified zones in the four metros.