Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners,
December is here and the activities do not stop as the last days before we take a short break (until January 12th) are full of buzz.
Before we change the year and date, we would like to remind you of the big strides made by DRM in 2025 across the world with your encouragement and support.
In this final and celebratory newsletter edition (please see below) you will be able to revisit all the great achievements of DRM and get an instant update on where we are and the very good starting position for 2026.
January 2026 looks already a very busy month with DRM participation in CES, Las Vegas, and BES, New Delhi, to mention just a few of the future events.
But before all that, we will all take a short and well-deserved break so we can make 2026 the most successful DRM year yet.
As I am wishing you a good holiday, a Merry Christmas, if you are celebrating it, and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026, let me thank all the members, associates, supporters and the project office colleagues for their sterling work and support.
The heart (and engine) of the Consortium is each one of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please stay close and even more committed to the wonderful DRM technology in the coming year! Our success is your success!
Ruxandra Obreja
DRM Consortium Chairman
So let us take a trip down DRM 2025 memory lane!
Latest News
January
DRM Takes Big Steps in China
China is accelerating DRM adoption, with the automotive industry driving momentum in this global manufacturing hub.
📄 For a quick update, read China Takes Further DRM Steps .
And a later update came out in October: 🔗China goes for DRM digital radio
February
DRM Consumer Radio Guide – Important Addition in Support of Receiver Manufacturing
DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (rxspec.drm.org), was released as a guide for radio manufacturers. This document completes a triad of key documents available from drm.org to any manufacturer, broadcaster and regulator interested in implementing DRM. Please go to DRM Technical Documentation to see how.
DRM Celebrates World Radio Day
Each year the DRM Consortium joins the world of broadcasting to mark UNESCO’s World Radio Day. In 2025 the theme was “Radio and Climate Change”. The UNESCO initiated anniversary was an excellent occasion for the DRM Consortium to remind the world community that the DRM digital radio standard can contribute to radio digitisation in energy efficient ways. 🔗More details on DRM marks World Radio Day
Our colleagues in the DRM South Africa group (www.drmsa.org) celebrated the global radio day in style and spread the word about the great advantages of the Digital Radio Mondiale.
🔗 DRM South Africa group makes World Radio Day special
Also in the Press:
March
DRM Technical Documentation Update
The www.drm.org website is constantly renewing. In 2025 we launched a new page grouping all the technical documentation stakeholders (broadcasters, manufacturers, regulators, listeners) can use to understand, apply and introduce the ITU-recommended, standard: DRM Technical Documentation.
One page lists the DRM Handbook (handbook.drm.org), the Emergency Warning Functionality documentation (ewf.drm.org) the Minimum Receiver Requirements document (mrr.drm.org) and the new DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (rxspec.drm.org).
April
DRM Achieves a Global First Education Broadcast from UK to the Gambia
On April the 8th, the DRM Consortium, in cooperation with St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School in the Gambian capital, Banjul, conducted its first public demonstration of an innovative project to deliver education at a distance via digital radio DRM. This was the culmination of many months of activity and some successful tests carried out in Europe and then in Africa.
The event has received widespread coverage in the press:
📄DRM tests shortwave lesson delivery from U.K. to Gambia — RedTech
📄In a first for Africa and the World, DRM to deliver distance education — RadioInfo Asia
📄Digital Radio: DRM Brings Distance Learning To Life In The Gambia — broadcastmediaafrica.com
📄DRM Consortium to run African demo of shortwave radio-based e-learning — RedTech
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.
May
DRM Annual General Assembly Brings Important Updates
The DRM Consortium General Assembly 2025 was held in Dubai on May 16–17, bringing together members worldwide to share updates and strategies. Following exciting presentations lively discussions DRM members reviewed the undeniable DRM successes in 2024-2025 and set the strategy, as well as very ambitious targets in a demanding media environment, for the coming year.
🔗 Important updates at DRM General Assembly
Read here what RedTech reports about the General Assembly.
DRM for First Time at the WAVES Big Media Event in India
The DRM Consortium, represented by some of its key members in India and the world, participated in the first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit for M&E Industry (WAVES) in Mumbai, May 1-4.
The inaugural summit addressed by the Indian Prime Minister showcased India’s ambition to position itself as a global hub for content creation, investment and “Create in India” opportunities. For a comprehensive view of the DRM presence at the Waves exhibition in the full context of the DRM standard features and benefits, we have created a video that you can immediately enjoy at: DRM – from Mumbai WAVES to Dubai General Assembly (with Video)
June
DRM Digital Radio – When Security Matters
Security is top of the global agenda. Radio World featured a blog by DRM chairman Ruxandra Obreja, in which she highlights radio’s position as not given funding priority though it remains vital in today’s tougher security environment.
📄 To follow the arguments read Digital Radio Is Worth the Cost When It Comes to International Security.
July
DRM Consortium Member Gives Insight into Software Defined Radio
Inntot, an Indian award-winning company and a DRM Consortium member, published a white paper on Software-Defined Radio. SDR is a radio communication system where most of the signal processing functions – such as modulation, demodulation, channel decoding etc, are performed using software instead of hardware.
DRM Marks New Developments in Indonesia
One of the most populous countries in Asia and the world, home to around 17,000 islands, Indonesia has fully embraced DRM and is making steady progress towards its roll out.
📄 To get a full picture please check Indonesia rolls out the DRM standard – news.drm.org
August
DRM in HF and AM Becomes National Standard in China
On August 1, 2025, China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) publicly announced the release of the official industry standard GY/T 423-2025, titled “Technical Specifications for Medium and Short-Wave Digital Sound Broadcasting”, which had been officially issued on July 29, 2025.
With this publication, NRTA formally adopts the global Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard as the technical foundation for digital broadcasting in the AM bands for domestic radio services in China.
📄 China Adopts DRM Standard to Modernize AM Radio Bands – Radio World
📄 DRM chosen in China – RedTech
📄 Official announcement on the NRTA website (in Chinese) – nrta.gov.cn
September
DRM at IBC 2025 – A Year of “Firsts” and Breakthroughs
At IBC 2025 in Amsterdam (12–15 September), the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium showcased a wealth of innovations and milestones that underscored DRM’s position as the only global digital radio standard for all coverage scenarios.
🔗 DRM – Your Connected Future – key announcements at IBC 2025
World’s First Multichannel DRM Transmitter in VHF Band III
In Hall 8 at RAI, visitors to the RFmondial and PLISCH were impressed with a DRM-DAB band III transmitter allowing for 15 DRM blocks to be transmitted from a single transmitter. This represents up to 15 independent broadcasters with a total of up to 45 audio services along with 15 dedicated DRM multimedia services such as Journaline within a 1,5 MHz VHF band-III channel. This can meet the needs of some countries like Indonesia interested in having a cost-efficient and energy saving option for digital radio in major metropolitan areas.
📄 RFmondial displays World’s first multi-channel DRM transmitter in VHF Band III.
📄 RFmondial displays World’s first multi-channel DRM transmitter in VHF Band III – news.drm.org
📄 DRM Consortium Reveals Band III Transmitter, In-Car Receiver – Radio World
Digital Radio Head-end Technology “Fraunhofer DRM and DAB+ ContentServer” – Latest Version R8 now available
Fraunhofer IIS also presented the latest major upgrade R8 to its professional ContentServer head-end technology for DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) and Digital Radio DAB+.
The new DRM/DAB ContentServer R8 enables broadcasters to put audio content and attractive multimedia services such as Journaline, SlideShow, Service Logos and more on air with ease, while benefitting from the latest standard upgrades and a range of new productivity features.
Here are more details: www.audioblog.iis.fraunhofer.com/contentserver-r8.
Monitoring Solution from Encompass and Bridge Tech Announced
Encompass Digital Media, active as a managed services company supporting broadcasters (television and radio), cable networks, sports leagues and OTT platforms, announced the launch, in partnership with Bridge Technologies, of a new Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) monitoring solution.
📄 A New DRM Monitoring Solution from Encompass and Bridge Tech Announced for IBC 2025
CML Micro Expands DRM1000
One module (from CML Micro) already used in the small, energy efficient N88 receiver has got better as CML and Fraunhofer IIS announced the expansion of the DRM1000 broadcast receiver module with integrated Journaline availability and announced that the first customer started mass production in India.
Multi-Standard Digital Radio Solution from RF2Digital and Fraunhofer IIS
RF2Digital and Fraunhofer IIS announced at IBC 2025 a full-featured Automotive Digital Radio Receiver Solution with automotive-grade user interface based on Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer Radio App technology, as well as a Multi-Standard Digital Radio USB Receiver.
Here are more details: Fraunhofer IIS ContentServer R8 digital radio head-end technology for DAB+ and DRM now available – audioblog.iis.fraunhofer.com
DRM Receiver Kit Software SDR for Automotive, Mobile Phones & Consumer Radios
The DRM Receiver Kit Software SDR for Automotive, Mobile Phones & Consumer Radios (AM and VHF bands) with a new DRM Baseband Library Versions was also included in the Fraunhofer presentation.
Mobile Phone Apps for Digital Radio
Starwaves launched its new DRM & DAB+ SoftRadio App for Android. The new dual-standard app is available for purchase on the Google Play Store alongside the original DRM-only app.
As a world’s first Android app it supports all core DRM and DAB features: Convenient service management with metadata descriptions to DRM EWF, the new DAB EWF plus emergency functionality including the ASA alarm signalling standard, and multimedia applications such as TextMessages/DL+, Journaline and SlideShow.
📄 STARWAVES Launches Full-Featured Dual-Standard Android SoftRadio App for DRM & DAB+
Video on DRM
Starwaves presented a technology preview how efficient low-bitrate codecs VVC in combination with xHE-AAC make DRM viable for real-time video services in FM and AM bands (“DRM Diveemo”). One example delivered a 100-kbps educational video in the FM band.
NewGlee Monitoring Receiver
NewGlee at its DRM booth presented their compact DRM monitoring receiver supporting the AM and FM bands.
Together, these announcements marked a transformative year for DRM, highlighting global adoption, technical innovation, and expanded applications across radio, automotive, and multimedia sectors.
New Quarterly African Newsletter Launched
Building on intense DRM activities in South Africa and the successful eLearning demonstration in the Gambia, the Consortium launched a dedicated Africa newsletter to reflect growing regional interest. The first edition, published in September, highlights key DRM developments across the continent while serving as a tool to understand the standard and connect with global progress.
October
Indonesian City Committed to DRM Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF)
Indonesia has committed to rolling out DRM and the implementation process is progressing apace. As part of the radio digitisation process, the public broadcaster Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) will be helping one of the key cities on the most populated island, Java, Bandung City to introduce DRM digital broadcasting, as there are no more frequencies for FM radio stations in that region.
👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn
November
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
Live DRM Reception in Indian Electric Vehicle
Publicising the benefits of DRM, a committed Indian supporter of DRM, Dr. Thamminana Krushna Rao has visited over 100 car showrooms demonstrating the benefits of Digital radio DRM. His visit to such a showroom in the heart of New Delhi during BES 2025 has been captured on a video.
📄🎞️ Live DRM Reception in Indian Electric Vehicle – news.drm.org.
Where Is the Indian Digitization Story Going?
In a Radio World blog DRM Chairman Ruxandra Obreja explores the path of India’s private FM digitisation, weighing competing standards while noting DRM’s strong presence already in 13 million cars capable of reaching 900 million people.
📄 Read the full analysis in Where Is the Indian Digitization Story Going.
December
2025 – A Year of Significant DRM Developments
In her end of year summary published in RedTech, DRM Chairman details why in 2025 DRM has proven to be not a niche technology but a robust, scalable system, adopted and ready for further adoption.
📄 2025 Ends as a Year of Significant DRM Developments – RedTech
Upcoming Events
📅 19-22 Jan | HFCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
📅 29–31 Jan | BES Expo, Delhi, India
📅 2–4 Feb | FOMEX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
📅 13 Feb | World Radio Day
📅 22–24 Mar | RadioDays Europe, Riga, Latvia
