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Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC) has just added a shortwave DRM-capable transmitter to its Rodeador transmission park near Brasilia, the country’s capital.
The public broadcaster will soon begin testing the 2.5 kW transmitter, designed and manufactured by BT Transmitters in Porto Alegre. According to the DRM consortium, the Brazilian-made sender will connect to one of EBC’s HF antennas to broadcast Rádio Nacional da Amazônia programs. EBC will then begin carrying out tests in collaboration with the University of Brasilia and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The DRM transmission take place in the 25m band.
Rádio Nacional da Amazônia’s signal originates in Brasilia and reaches the Amazonian region as well as neighboring countries to the north. DRM explains that the main goal of this shortwave broadcast is to provide domestic coverage to a population of some 7 million indigenous people. The area has little means of communication with hardly any mobile phone or internet coverage.
“Shortwave DRM digital radio will ensure a new level of communication and information for that region since Nacional’s programming is both popular and educational,” said Rafael Diniz, chair of DRM Brazilian Platform. “It brings audio and much more at low costs to whole communities there. Listeners will also be enjoy textual and visual multimedia content,” he said.
“This is a huge step forward not just for Brazil but for the whole of Latin America,” said Ruxandra Obreja, DRM chair. “When everything else fails or does not exist, DRM is able to provide information, education, emergency warning and entertainment at reduced energy costs.”
