The DRM Consortium has reaffirmed its position on India’s digital radio future following the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s recent recommendations on digital FM broadcasting. The consortium states that the open, ITU-recognized Digital Radio Mondiale system presents the most practical path toward nationwide digital radio coverage.
According to the group, DRM provides continuity with existing AM and shortwave services, while enabling digital FM delivery through a single, open framework. It notes that the model supports India’s drive toward local manufacturing, cost efficiency, and public accessibility, aligning with national digital policy goals.
Emphasizing a unified standard
TRAI’s recommendations, published in early October, support a technology-neutral approach for the 88–108 MHz FM band and include provisions for simulcasting analog and digital services. The DRM Consortium says this creates an opportunity for India to adopt a single open standard across all frequency bands — shortwave, mediumwave, AM and FM — simplifying migration for both broadcasters and listeners.
The consortium emphasizes DRM’s open architecture and fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory licensing terms, which it says align with India’s “Make in India” policy by enabling domestic production of transmitters and receivers at scale. It also highlights DRM’s built-in emergency warning functionality, capacity to serve all broadcaster categories and its spectrum efficiency for wide-area coverage in both rural and urban regions.
In its statement, the consortium calls for collaboration among government agencies, regulators, broadcasters and equipment manufacturers to establish a unified digital radio ecosystem. It says that adopting a single, globally proven system would provide clarity to the market, encourage investment and accelerate India’s transition to digital broadcasting.
You can find more details on DRM’s position on the Indian regulator’s recommendation here.
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