With more than 275 million people and more than 17,000 islands Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. Already in 2023, the Indonesian government officially issued the national digital radio policy (recommending DRM and DAB+) as a strategic tool for disaster preparedness, information resilience and national development. To further optimise spectrum usage and unify infrastructure, the government announced right from the start the co-utilisation of VHF Band III for both DRM and DAB, positioning Indonesia as a global pioneer in harmonised digital radio implementation.
To support this national strategy, the two DRM Members RF2Digital (a Korea-based SDR platform innovator) and Desay SV (a leading Chinese automotive electronics supplier), together with Autoaccindo Jaya (a well-established Indonesian Tier-1 automotive distributor), have jointly developed a dedicated in-vehicle digital radio solution tailored for Indonesia.
RF2Digital contributed its software-defined radio (SDR) platform technology, which allows seamless support for multiple standards (DAB, DRM, CDR, HD Radio) via software updates without any hardware/firmware modifications. Desay SV provided system integration and production expertise. Autoaccindo Jaya, leveraging its nationwide distribution network and in-depth understanding of the Indonesian automotive market, ensured localized deployment and operational readiness across the country.
The jointly developed solution was unveiled during a Digital Radio TechDay event held recently in Jakarta. This was attended by key stakeholders from MCDA (Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs, Republic of Indonesia), state broadcaster RRI (Radio Republik Indonesia), and major local OEMs.
The demonstration featured a single unified module capable of receiving FM, DRM and DAB signals, along with an integrated Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), showcased in a live in-vehicle environment.
Notably, the demo highlighted the solution’s consistency across both high-end and entry-level vehicle platforms, demonstrating equal signal performance and UI responsiveness regardless of hardware class.
The automatic emergency switching and real-time display of alerts impressed government officials and OEMs alike.
According to attendees, the solution goes beyond simple radio reception; it illustrates how in-vehicle infotainment platforms can evolve into integrated public safety tools, directly supporting national emergency response frameworks.
RF2Digital noted that this collaboration provides a strong foundation for positioning Indonesia as a model nation for digital radio migration in Asia, and that the company plans to expand similar global-standard solutions to Southeast Asia and Africa to support digital broadcasting and emergency infrastructure worldwide.
🔗 At IBC 2025 in Amsterdam, DRM member RFmondial together with Plisch displayed the world’s first multi-channel DRM transmitter in VHF Band III.
Together with the work of RF2Digital, Desay SV and Autoaccindo Jaya, this simply strengthens the truth that a clear and determined government policy adopted nationally brings with it the commitment of the international and local industry to deliver the right products turning digitisation into reality.
