The Centre is likely to extend the customs duty cut on imported set-top boxes beyond September 30.

Even though the implementation of the conditional access system is in disarray, revenue department officials said it was difficult to revert to the earlier duty structure.

They said the import schedules for cable operators would be upset if they reverted to the old duty structure. They said the extension would mean that the duty cut would be applicable for the entire fiscal.

The government had cut the various duty components on set-top boxes from 50.8 per cent to 5 per cent on May 29 this year. Although it was initially till July 31, it was subsequently extended till the end of September.