Successful National Launch of Digital Radio in India

After rejecting DAB India now demonstrates full capabilities of DRM
Recently the public broadcaster All India Radio successfully completed phase-I of the national DRM digital radio roll-out – the installation of 37 DRM transmitters, now operational, throughout the country. As part of Phase II of the DRM introduction in the country, All India Radio is demonstrating the full complement of services which are part of the DRM30 standard using the AM band (Mediumwave).

AIR is now launching phase-II of the DRM project by offering full features/services from these DRM transmitters and further improving service quality. DRM services will finally be available to the audience and a public information campaign will be initiated to inform the Indian citizens of the completely new and future oriented DRM radio platform and its many benefits. 

The first steps of phase-II of the digital radio roll-out project are already visible and audible to the audience in Delhi. The DRM transmissions from Delhi/Nangli now provide excellent audio quality based on DRM’s xHE-AAC audio codec. It also includes DRM text messages and Journaline. The advanced text service Journaline provides detailed news of various topics to listeners – accessible on their radio set screen – free of charge, without requiring Internet access. All this is available in the simulcast configuration and with the most robust DRM transmission configuration, enabling increased in-door coverage.

21 DRM transmitters are now operating in pure DRM for one hour everyday, in addition to simulcast operation. Excellent feedback is being received by AIR about of the reception quality of DRM signals. AIR is planning to enhance the DRM service from Chennai, Pune and Bangalore very shortly.

NXP Semiconductors, the world’s largest supplier of automotive semiconductors and Hyundai Mobis, the world’s leading tier-1 automotive supplier, have announced the successful completion of field trials of MOBIS DRM receivers and NXP chips designed in India. The chips and DRM receivers are now deployed in DRM-fitted car infotainment receivers in a newly launched vehicle in India by a leading carmaker. 

AM radio covers more than 98 percent of the population in India, and only 37 percent of listeners can currently receive the FM signal.  However, AIR has announced plans for a future launch of digital radio also on the FM band (DRM+).

The DAB radio system with its limited geographical reach has earlier been rejected by India as being too expensive for national broadcasting coverage.

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