Tuesday 15 September 2015

All India Radio Opens Highpower Digital Medium-Wave

DRM  system will work simultaneously with analog
The CEO of  the Indian public radio and television organization, Mr. Jawhar Sircar has inaugurated the new 200kW medium wave transmitter of All India Radio Kolkata (657 kHz) at Aamtala. This brings the total of new DRM-ready medium wave transmitters commissioned in India to 21 (out of planned 35). However, this is the first transmitter simulcasting analogue and digital signals.

This transmitter will cover the whole of South Bengal, adjoining regions in the eastern part of India, and part of Bangladesh. The transmitter will start with simulcasts but can be switched to pure DRM very quickly, which will bring extra energy savings. The new digital system would work simultaneously with analog until all the radio sets switched to digital sets in next few years.

India is a leading country implementing the new digital radio system DRM. The whole country will be covered by DRM mediumwave, but there also plans to introduce DRM+ for the FM band. India will not develop the DAB system.