At the end of September, the Indian regulator, TRAI, launched a Consultation paper on formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private Radio broadcasters.
The first phase of this consultation invitation which should give the strongest arguments the regulator can advance to the government for a final decision on the digitisation of the FM frequency band (VHF frequency band II) ended in October.
A second phase was scheduled to end on November 11th. The consultation is part of an open process to establish how the FM band should be digitised in India.
The best standard for FM, a popular and lucrative frequency band for public and commercial broadcasters is still an unanswered question. The two contenders are: the international open standard DRM, the digital successor to analogue AM and FM broadcasting already deployed in India in the AM band, and the proprietary HD system, promoted by the Xperi US company.
In the first round of the consultation almost all responses and comments were of the unanimous opinion that a single standard chosen to digitise broadcast radio in India is advantageous for listeners, broadcasters and the industry.
Broadcast radio (analogue or digital) is a classic network technology. It therefore requires the buy-in from broadcasters as well as receiver and car manufacturers; thus, all stakeholders need to agree on and operate on a single, common technical platform to be successful. The mere fact that DRM is already on-air in India today, including for applications not supported by HD Radio at all, and millions of cars on the roads of India receiving DRM signals natively allows for only one conclusion: DRM is the obvious solution to enable digital radio services in India also in the FM band.
In this context it is crucial to understand that DRM desktop radios in India today already support DRM in the FM band, and apps to receive and listen to DRM services on mobile phones are available in Android app stores such as Google, Amazon and Huawei.
The arguments put forward initially are quite clear:
Open standard – DRM digital radio is the most modern, non-proprietary, open digital radio standard. It is recognised and endorsed by relevant organisations namely ITU and ETSI. DRM works in all the broadcast bands. DRM is the only digital radio standard that uses the most recent and efficient audio code of the MPEG AAC family: xHE-AAC, which is supported natively by billions of mobile phones, tablets and PCs.
DRM digital radio goes beyond just audio transmission. Not only does DRM provide high-quality audio, but it also offers a range of additional services.
One DRM digital service offers up to 4 services (3 audio and 1 multimedia service such as Journaline) on a single transmission frequency (one DRM block).
DRM offers the flexibility to also operate as “Single-Transmitter Simulcast” with digital sidebands and analogue signal originating from the same transmitter (Fig 2).
In addition, DRM can operate as “Pure Digital Transmission” while providing simulcast to existing analogue transmission via Alternative Frequency Signalling (AFS).
Importantly, DRM digital radio is scalable both in terms of service offering and spectrum usage. This scalability makes DRM digital radio a highly spectrum-optimal and energy-efficient system. Here is a typical scenario (Fig 3) where a side-by-side combination of multiple DRM blocks fills the gap between the analogue FM transmissions. All these DRM blocks are jointly amplified by a single FM-band transmitter for maximum efficiency and cost-saving. Each DRM block represents a single broadcaster or user with full ownership of the transmission content and configuration. Each of these DRM blocks offers up to 3 audio programmes and additional multimedia services like Journaline. Up to 5 DRM blocks can be provided in the white space of 600 kHz between two high-power analogue FM transmitters. This DRM Multichannel approach allows the effective use of spectrum, which is currently technically not usable by analogue FM transmissions and not available with other in-band standards.
Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) is a native core feature of DRM. The EWF programme comprises both audio and text/visual information via Journaline. The audio is enhanced by the audio text which provides detailed information on the screen of the radio set (without the need for the Internet), also in multiple languages simultaneously.
Improved coverage with minimal interference. DRM digital radio utilises digital modulation and sophisticated error correction techniques and incorporates efficient audio coding with xHE-AAC. These mechanisms ensure robust and reliable reception.
No licenses required. DRM can be implemented by anyone as manufacturers do not require licenses (i.e., ask any single entity for permission – which could then be rejected), resulting in free and full access to technology.
Only an openly standardised technology such as DRM with full and unrestricted access to all its components by all stakeholders is suitable for these purposes.
In particular, for information, education and entertainment its built-in advanced text service Journaline will meet the requirements of India’s diverse cultural and linguistic landscape, and natively supports the many different scripts used across the country.
DRM also supports a scalable, cost-effective receiver ecosystem.
DRM has all the tools for the development of a Design Ecosystem and local production. DRM receiver chipsets, developed and designed in India, are being exported for the world market and specifically also drive Chinese DRM receiver models and DRM in cars. DRM is a true success story for cutting-edge technology Make in India for the world market.
DRM, with its bandwidth of only 100 kHz, is the only digital standard supported by current mobile/cell phone hardware and built-in FM tuner designs without requiring dedicated or special hardware or chips, as existing FM front ends may be configured to capture the DRM on-air raw signal. In other words, if the selected tuner provides access to raw on-air information – implementation of full-featured DRM radio as a default feature on future phones is a mere software app integration.
Android apps too take care of the full-featured DRM decoding from such a raw signal are available in Indian app stores (Google, Amazon, Huawei) today, proving the claim made above. DRM FM-band reception is ready for native integration by mobile phone manufacturers after India has taken a decision on digitising the FM band. In addition, these Android apps allow to even upgrade existing phones (via external USB tuner), so interested parties have access to today’s and future DRM transmissions at very low cost.
The automotive Indian industry is a success story for DRM because the over 6 million cars with AM band DRM reception have been installed by automobile brands in India in only a few years. The DRM reception in cars comes at no extra cost to car buyers. The growth, already impressive is continuing as most of the big brands in India are fitting DRM receivers. The automotive industry has proven during the recent DRM FM-band on-air trails in Delhi and Jaipur that car receivers can be software upgraded for DRM FM-band reception without hardware modifications – offering almost an immediate automotive receiver population for DRM services in the FM band.
Indian start-ups like Inntot and OptM have innovated and developed receiver and transmission solutions for India and global market. Other well-known players like NXP, RF2Digital and Mobis too have developed/implemented solutions which have resulted in cost-effective solutions for automotive OEMs whilst consumers pay nothing extra.
And DRM desktop radios in India today already support DRM in the FM band.
Today, DRM is being adopted and rolled-out in major countries across Asia; including the recent policy publication of the Indonesian regulator, Pakistan’s roll-out of DRM and China’s government request to all domestic manufacturers and international importers to support DRM in the country – in addition to all major domestic car brands having cars with DRM radio functionality on the road in India based on AIR’s AM-band DRM services.
DRM is made for India as it aligns with India’s goals for technology independence and global competitiveness in digital broadcasting. And this seems to be consensus among the companies and individuals who have submitted their comments with many more details in support of DRM like:
The Arab States Broadcasting Union, DRM Consortium, HFCC, WorldDAB, RDS Forum, Free Stream Technologies, HT Media / Fever FM India, OptM India, Indian DX Club International, Inntot India, Ittiam Systems, Cambridge Consultants, CML Micro, Desay SV, Dolby, Elements Innovation UK, Fraunhofer IIS, German DRM Platform, Gospell Digital Technology, IZT, RF2Digital, RFmondial, Space Line, Starwaves, Szomel, WECODEC, Liu Haochun, Dr. Thamminana Krushna Rao and others.
