The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium will showcase DRM’s broadcast-proven capabilities at India scale and its public-value benefits at BES Expo 2026, the 30th International Conference & Exhibition on Broadcast & Media Technology, taking place 29–31 January 2026 at Hall 12A, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This year’s theme, “Broadcast Intelligence Innovation: Make in India for the World,” aligns with DRM’s mission to enable modern, efficient radio services designed for India’s scale and diversity.
At BES Expo 2026, DRM experts will demonstrate how the global, open digital radio standard can offer a flexible and cost-effective path for FM radio digitisation, while preserving radio’s strengths: universal access, resilience, and public service. Because DRM is an open standard, it strengthens technology sovereignty by avoiding proprietary lock-in and empowering local innovation and manufacturing.
DRM is Already Proven in India – and Ready to Scale
India’s AM digitisation – together with the development of a robust receiver ecosystem – provides a strong foundation for FM digitisation. This momentum is further reflected in the automotive market: around 30% of new cars sold in India are DRM-enabled, and industry estimates indicate there are approximately 1.3 crore DRM-capable vehicles currently on Indian roads.
True Simulcasting: Protecting Today’s FM While Enabling Tomorrow’s Digital
A key focus at BES Expo 2026 will be practical transition strategies. DRM will showcase true simulcasting architectures, in which the analogue FM programme is transmitted in parallel with the DRM digital service, ensuring service continuity for legacy receivers while enabling digital upgrades. In these configurations, broadcasters can choose either (a) a one-to-one simulcast, or (b) entirely new digital-only programme services, while continuing analogue FM broadcasts in parallel. Crucially, DRM’s Alternative Frequency Signalling (AFS) can link each DRM digital service to one or more analogue FM alternative frequencies, enabling receivers to switch automatically between digital and analogue delivery of the same service. In both cases, the DRM transmission can additionally carry enhanced digital services – such as Journaline text, rich content, and other data applications – alongside the audio. DRM will also highlight learnings from VHF/FM-band trials and demonstrations that inform a feasible roadmap for FM digitisation.
“Make in India, Innovate in India”: Receiver Ecosystem and Modules
The DRM ecosystem continues to expand with receiver chips, modules, and reference designs – including solutions with India-based innovation, development and manufacturing pathways – supporting scalable adoption across home, portable, and automotive segments.
Live Demonstrations: The Full DRM Broadcast Chain – From Studio to Listener
DRM Consortium members and partners will demonstrate the end-to-end broadcast chain, giving broadcasters, policymakers, and ecosystem partners a hands-on view of what FM digitisation can look like in practice. Visitors will see:
- Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer technology – a studio head-end system for data management, encoding, and multiplex generation.
- RFmondial DRM modulator – showcasing simulcasting as well as multichannel DRM
- Receiver and platform ecosystem presentations – from DRM-capable receiver chips and software-defined radio (SDR) solutions to complete consumer and automotive DRM receivers, featuring CML Micro, NXP, Inntot, RF2Digital, and other ecosystem partners.
- Best-in-class audio quality and the ability to deliver multiple digital services within an efficient broadcast framework.
- Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) – an innate DRM capability designed to deliver urgent alerts quickly and reliably, including automatic receiver wake-up and prioritised messaging.
- Public-service applications such as distance learning, public information services, and rich on-screen content.
- Journaline text services enabling information-rich, interactive user experiences, with the potential for targeted advertising, clickable content, and audience engagement features – alongside other data services.
- Audience monitoring and engagement tools that support measurable listener interaction and smarter programming decisions.
- New commercial opportunities through value-added services, interactive features, and premium formats that can help unlock incremental revenue.
Visit DRM at BES Expo 2026
Broadcast executives, regulators, manufacturers, automotive partners, media technology professionals and public are invited to engage with DRM experts, experience live demos, and explore deployment and transition options tailored to India’s FM landscape. At BES Expo 2026, we’re focused on practical pathways for FM digitisation – demonstrating not just better audio, but life-saving emergency alerts, measurable engagement, new revenue opportunities and seamless analogue to digital transition with true simulcasting that makes digital radio sustainable.
Event: BES Expo 2026 – 30th International Conference & Exhibition on Broadcast & Media Technology
Dates: 29–31 January 2026
Venue: Hall 12A, Booth B3, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
Theme: Broadcast Intelligence Innovation: Make in India for the World
