DRM Newsletter June 2026

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners,

Following a successful General Assembly with its many updates and announcements last month, in June we concentrated on some of the new DRM developments. The innovative solution of placing DRM reception in wearables like headphones or earbuds also caught the attention of many readers and you can catch up on it as well.

DRM delivering education to all, even when internet or electricity are not available, featured at an important event in west Africa and Nigerian colleagues representing us will share their feedback.

Details about the start of IBC 2026 preparations are detailed in this newsletter edition as well.

And please remember that you can also download the new and improved version of the DRM handbook now available on our web site directly and freely from handbook.drm.org.

This will be completed with other news from important DRM countries like China etc.

In 2026 we keep open the invitation to join us as a free member. If interested, please make sure to get all the information.

Latest News

DRM in Your Ear Buds Leads the Way in Digital Receivers

Imagine you open an App on your mobile and simply choose your favourite DRM radio programme. This scenario is now reality as explained in the Indian press by Matthew Phillips.

📄 Read the story in Broadcast & CableSat

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn

If the idea catches your imagination and you wish for more details, please read the full, more detailed article by Matthew Phillips of CML Micro to learn how semiconductor innovation could support the next generation of digital broadcasting linking it to our indispensable mobiles.

📄 CML Micro: A Digital FM Reception Solution for Every Mobile Phone in India

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn

📄 news.drm.org: DRM Digital Radio Mondiale – A Digital FM Reception Solution for Every Mobile Phone in India

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn

In a recent guest commentary for Red Tech, the DRM chairman also explores how wearables could bring DRM radio to billions of mobile phones.

📄 Could wearables bring DRM radio to billions of mobile phones? – RedTech

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn

DRM – e-learning Pioneering Efforts Showcased in Africa

DRM educational solutions were presented at the big annual eLearning Africa event held at the beginning of June in Accra, Ghana. The eLearning Africa annual conference and exhibition, established in 2005, is the largest and most comprehensive knowledge sharing event for digital education, training and skills on the African continent.

This time the DRM Consortium was represented by Edugist, a Nigerian education and media organisation.

📄 news.drm.org: DRM for Digital Learning at eLearning Africa 2026 fronted by Edugist

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn

DRM in South Africa Update

The DRM South Africa Group has submitted its first quarterly progress report for the DRM in FM trial being conducted by the DRM Southern Africa (DRM SA) Group under a test licence issued by the South African regulator, ICASA, to the private station BluLemon Ltd in November 2025.

Since the licence was granted, the DRM SA Group has made significant progress in the establishment and commissioning of the DRM in FM trial infrastructure, the execution of the official trial launch, and the demonstration of key DRM capabilities to a range of stakeholders.

The trial officially launched on 13 February 2026 – UNESCO World Radio Day – from the Northcliff high-site in Johannesburg, broadcasting on 91.25 MHz at 70 watts transmitter output power. Three broadcast services (Radio Pulpit, HOT1027 and an Education channel) were carried simultaneously on a single FM frequency. The launch coincided with a world-first demonstration of e-learning via DRM digital radio in the FM band.

From February to April 2026, the trial operated successfully and attracted national and international attention, including visits from Mozambican broadcasting and regulatory authorities. Media coverage included interviews on HOT 102.7 and Radio Pulpit, as well as press coverage in prestigious publication TechCentral.

In May 2026, the transmitter was taken off-air due to a power amplifier fault being rectified currently. The transmitter is expected to return to air very soon.
So far, the trial has generated meaningful engagement while demonstrating DRM’s capabilities in a real-world South African FM environment. The next phases – multi-channel testing, coverage verification, and Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) demonstration – will proceed very soon.

South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) issued a policy direction to ICASA on 10 July 2020 to begin developing digital sound broadcasting (DSB) regulations. ICASA published the DSB Regulations in April 2021, which identified both DRM and DAB+ as the recommended standards for digital radio in South Africa.

The DRM Consortium revived the DRM South Africa Group in 2021 to advocate for DRM as the preferred DSB standard and to build awareness among broadcasters, industry stakeholders, and the public. The DRM SA Group determined in August 2024 that BluLemon (Pty) Ltd would undertake a long-term DRM FM trial on behalf of the Group.

DRM partners supporting the trial infrastructure include Fraunhofer IIS (providing DRM ContentServer and MultimediaPlayer technologies), RFmondial, Starwaves, and the DRM Consortium Project Office (providing coordination, technical guidance, and international support).

DRM at IBC in September

The DRM Consortium is starting its preparations for IBC 2026 in Amsterdam (ibc.org), the Netherlands in middle September. Please note the dates:

8th Sep – virtual DRM Update (2 hours)
12th Sep (am) – a live event at the IBC RAI centre in Amsterdam
13th Sep (pm) – a live event at the IBC RAI centre in Amsterdam

DRM Indian Member Gets Recognition

DRM Consortium member OptM Solutions has been recognized in India at the Digital Native Nexus Awards 2026 as one of the Visionary Organizations of the Year.

Special recognition was also given to the company’s leadership team, including Umesh Tallam, Athmananda CP, and Hemantha Lakshmi, for their role in driving the continued growth of the OptM product portfolio.

The award highlights OptM Solutions’ commitment to advancing embedded software and automotive hardware technologies, supporting OEMs in the development of safer, smarter, and future-ready vehicles.

👍 Read and like the post on LinkedIn