Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners,
November is as busy as it can be for DRM. This newsletter will give you a lot of details on the DRM position after the publication of the Indian regulator’s recommendation on FM digitisation.
In this newsletter edition you will also find out that DRM representatives have been very busy promoting the great benefits of the standard at a South African webinar and a climate change event in Africa. Currently there are preparations underway for a high-octane DRM presence at the imminent ABU-UNESCO climate summit in Sri Lanka.
A short overview of DRM in China is also included below.
If interested, please get the simple details about the introductory free associate membership as there might be companies and organisations you know or cooperate with that might benefit from this.
On 25/26 October some countries put the clocks back and this changed the radio broadcast schedules. We are still adjusting to the changes but to get the new schedules please check schedule.drm.org.
If there are inaccuracies or omissions, please write to: projectoffice@drm.org.
If you still want to join us as a free member for a limited period please make sure to get all the information.
Latest News
DRM Consortium Position on Indian Regulator’s Recommendation
On October 3rd the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended the adoption of a single national standard for digital radio in VHF Band II (88–108 MHz), emphasizing the need for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and technological sovereignty.
Among globally recognized standards, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) uniquely aligns with India’s regulatory vision and national priorities. In its position paper the DRM Consortium argues that Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is India’s natural choice for the transition to digital radio broadcasting. It states that adopting DRM as India’s digital radio standard will deliver many benefits like: a unified digital radio ecosystem, true simulcasting and digital coexistence, encouragement for Indian design, manufacturing, and innovation capacity under the Make in India 2.0 framework. DRM can offer free public access to information and education through open technologies and ensure spectrum efficiency, and long-term sustainability across India.
📄 DRM Position Following Indian Regulator’s Recommendation on Digital FM – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
India Tuning In – Over 13 million Cars on Indian Roads Will Feature DRM Digital Radio
India’s digital radio revolution has gained remarkable momentum, with over 11.9 million (1.19 crore) passenger cars on the road as of July 2025 already equipped with DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) receivers — a figure forecast to surpass 13 million (1.3 crore ) by the end of this year, according to industry experts.
📄 India Tuning In – DRM Digital Radio in over 13 Million Indian Cars by end of 2025 – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
DRM Consortium Latest on Indian Regulator’s Recommendation – Press Coverage
📄 DRM Says It’s the Best Choice for Digital Radio in India – Radio World
📄 DRM Consortium responds to Indian regulator’s digital FM recommendation – RedTech
📄 DRM Cites Receiver Growth in India – Radio World
📄 DRM digital radio in over 13 million Indian cars by end of 2025 – radioinfo.asia
📄 DRM Position Following Indian Regulator’s Recommendation on Digital FM – radiotvlink.com
📄 DRM signals significant milestone in India’s car market – RedTech
👍 Please read and like the LinkedIn post by Inntot’s Rajith Nair on this topic.
👍 Please read and like CML Micro’s LinkedIn post on this.
DRM Consortium Member – More Good News from India
The DRM Consortium recently announced that over 11.9 million (1.19 crore) passenger cars on the Indian roads, as of July 2025, were already equipped with DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) receivers — a figure forecast to surpass 13 million (1.3 crore) by the end of this year, according to industry experts.
A big part in this success is played, alongside some international companies, by an award-winning Indian start-up company, Inntot Technologies, which has created a software-based DRM receiver for generic processors. Recently they announced that they have deployed 1.8 million units of their DRM SDR solution which powers DRM receivers of popular models of major car makers providing a competitive edge to automotive Tier-1 customers. Inntot’s DRM receiver module solution presents excellent RF and timing performance along with highly optimized CPU usage. It supports AM (LW/MW/SW) & FM bands. All features including optional and recommended features are supported. Software upgrade is possible and easy.
Inntot Technologies also provides solutions for other key standards but in the current discussion about the FM digitisation in India, Rajith Nair, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Inntot Technologies, strongly supports the idea that DRM Digital Radio is India’s natural choice for the transition to digital radio broadcasting. In his opinion, adopting DRM as India’s single digital radio standard ensures a unified, secure, and future-proof national broadcasting ecosystem that empowers citizens, strengthens domestic industry, and upholds India’s vision of a digitally empowered, self-reliant nation.
Recently Inntot Technologies upgraded to full membership of the DRM consortium. Congratulations!
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
👍 Please read and like the LinkedIn post by Inntot’s Rajith Nair on this topic.
DRM Goes Strongly in China
The open, global DRM standard has recently been adopted as part of the Chinese national standard. This big step, following the adoption of DRM, the all-frequencies digital audio broadcasting standard in India, Indonesia, South Africa and so many other countries, signals the coming of age of DRM. In her article the DRM Consortium chairman gives the background to this important decision.
DRM Emergency Warning for African Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
Following a recent meeting with UNESCO representatives in Paris, the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium has presented the disasters warning solution provided by the DRM digital radio standard at a regional UNESCO sponsored workshop on climate change in Port Louis, Mauritius, October 27-29.
📄 DRM Emergency Warning for African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
DRM at the 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention
As the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard has a wide recognition and use in the Asia-Pacific region, the Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) of DRM will feature during the ABU-UNESCO 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention (CADP) 2025 event to be held in Sri Lanka November 25-27 ABU Events – CADP2025.
Matthew Phillips, a member of the DRM Steering Board, will participate in one of the key sessions of the summit on 26/11 | 14:45 – 15:30 | Strengthening Media’s Role in Early Warnings and Emergency Communication | Focus on Radio. This session will explore how broadcasters—especially radio—can enhance their role in early warning dissemination and emergency response to save lives and reduce disaster impacts.
CADP 2025 will be fully livestreamed, making it easy for ABU members who cannot attend in person and viewers around the world to follow the event as it happens. The stream will start at 8.45 AM (Sri Lanka Time) on 25 and 26 November 2025 at this link.
📄 DRM at the 9th ABU Media Summit on Climate Action and Disaster Prevention – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
DRM Members Return to AidEx with Live Education Demo
For the second year running DRM representatives attended AidEx, the world’s leading humanitarian aid and disaster relief event in Geneva, Switzerland, on 22-23 October 2025. AidEx is co-located with Development2030, a global event uniting international development actor in pursuit of sustainable development goals. Together, both events bring aid, relief and international development professionals all under the same roof to explore the latest innovations, meet new suppliers, share experiences with peers, build meaningful relationships and collaborate in new projects.
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
EduTab Africa and DRM Open New Pathways for Digital Education in Africa
How can digital education reach places where the internet is scarce – whether due to limited coverage, high data costs, or unreliable connections?
EduTab Africa, a Kenyan edtech company, and DRM have joined forces to explore exactly this question. In a first joint demonstration, podcast-style lessons are transmitted via DRM. Two episodes of EduTab Africa’s African Children Stories podcast – based on African Storybook editions – have been adapted into DRM modules that integrate locally relevant content for African learners.
Going forward, the initiative aims to strengthen technological infrastructure and build sustainable local expertise, supporting long-term value creation across Africa. At the same time, it seeks to deepen international collaboration to broaden access to educational content across borders.
📄 EduTab Africa and DRM Open New Pathways for Digital Education in Africa – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like EduTab’s post on LinkedIn.
DRM South Africa Group Organises its First DRM webinar
To explore the progress and potential of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) in South Africa and the Southern African region, the DRM South Africa Group in Johannesburg organised its first DRM Southern Africa Webinar on October 22. The event brought together broadcasters, industry experts, and technology partners to discuss the progress and potential of DRM in the region. One of the more exciting elements was the live polling of participants and their responses to DRM.
📄 First DRM Webinar Successfully Organised by the DRM South Africa Group – news.drm.org
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
DRM on Air on Hungarian Anniversary
On December 1st Hungary will celebrate the centenary of its regular radio broadcasting. There will be official events to mark the occasion, accompanied by a DRM transmission on the day.
Currently there are no digital radio services on air in Hungary. For one day only, a DRM programme will be on air, in honour of the engineers and technicians who have embraced the cause of radio broadcasting in the past century. The broadcast will be simply a test audio stream and a short Journaline text service to showcase the benefits of DRM digital radio. This demonstration will take place four years after the last major DRM campaign in Hungary in 2021.
The December 2025 transmission will be delivered in co-operation with Fraunhofer IIS, 4iG Műsorszóró Infrastruktúra Kft. (the Hungarian broadcasting company) and the DRM Consortium’s Associate Member, SZOMEL Kft.
As this is a 100-year anniversary, the transmitted power will be 100W on 26060 kHz (the frequency might be subject to change). Although this is a relatively small transmitter power, the signal could be received in countries surrounding Hungary, and even in some areas of Germany and the Netherlands, as it happened in 2021.
More details will follow next month.
One Nation, One Standard – DRM will participate at BES 2026
DRM will participate in BES 2026. The exhibition will take place at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, from 29 to 31 January 2026. The DRM booth will be located in Hall 12A at Booth B3.
For continuously updated information on the DRM presence at BES 2026, please visit: www.drm.org/bes-2026.
Around the Web
🔗 Global leaders call for inclusion of higher education in crisis – SABC
🔗 SABC’s cultural focus powers digital growth – RedTech
🔗 How Radio Can Win in the Age of Digital Fatigue – Radio Ink
🔗 Removing AM/FM From Cars Puts Public Safety At Risk – NAB
🔗 Spain’s RNE to Shut Down AM Transmitters – Radio World
🔗 Does radio have an impact on people’s lives? – RedTech
Upcoming Events
📅 29–31 Jan | BES Expo, Delhi, India
📅 2–4 Feb | FOMEX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
📅 13 Feb | World Radio Day
📅 Feb | HFCC
📅 22–24 Mar | RadioDays Europe, Riga, Latvia
