The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium (www.drm.org) made its presence known from the start of at the 29th edition of BES (Broadcast Engineering Society) EXPO International Conference & Exhibition on Broadcast & Media Technology, being held in New Delhi, India (July 3-5).
Visitors to Booth B12 in Hall 10 have already had the opportunity to get acquainted with the extra services of DRM like emergency warning delivery, e-learning, public signage and multi-channel DRM FM option. An MG car parked at the entrance to the exhibition demonstrated reception of the live DRM AM signal of the Delhi public broadcaster DRM transmitter.
The DRM Indian and international team of experts are demonstrating the various receiver solutions, some already on the dashboard of the over 7 million cars on Indian roads.
In the first conference panel discussion of the BES conference, Alexander Zink, DRM Vice-Chairman, made the case for DRM in FM and for its advantages as DRM has been already rolled out in AM In India. He explained why DRM, as an open, all-band standard, fits into the existing Indian infrastructure allowing for simulcasting and an easy transition from analogue to digital with minimum cost. Mr Zink also mapped the main stages and tasks of all stakeholders, public and private, in achieving the digitisation of the FM band still undecided by the Indian regulator and government.
A similar discussion including some very clear questions was held at the General Assembly of the Association of Indian Private Broadcasters (AROI), where DRM was invited to present its case alongside WorldDAB and Experi/HD representatives in the digital radio session of the meeting. Again the DRM presentation on the multichannel solution for digitising the FM broadcast bands included the arguments proving that this is the way to leave for now the analogue broadcasts untouched while sharing a separate digital transmitter and the low energy costs required while preserving the independence of each radio station joining this set-up.
The Booth B12 in Hall 10 and the car with DRM reception will be again the focus on the next days of the exhibition.
On Saturday, the 5th of July, the DRM Chairman. Mrs Ruxandra Obreja, will be part of the “Make in India” conference session demonstrating why DRM is already an Indian standard applying and benefitting from Indian expertise and innovation.
Continuously updated DRM @ BES 2025 page: drm.org/bes-2025.
