Presently radio signals are largely transmitted in analog mode in the country. Analog terrestrial radio broadcasting, when compared with digital mode, is inefficient and suffers from operational restrictions. With the advancement in technologies, digital radio technologies around the globe have been developed and adopted by a number of countries in order to offer more choice to listeners along with efficient use of spectrum. Digital Radio broadcasting provides a number of advantages over analog radio broadcasting. The biggest advantage of digital radio is that it is possible to broadcast three to four channels on a single frequency carrier while ensuring excellent quality of audio for all the channels whereas analog mode broadcasts only one channel on a frequency carrier. In a competitive environment, digital radio broadcasting can provide exciting new opportunities to radio broadcasters as well as a host of value-added-services to the listeners.

In order to develop an eco-system, which can facilitate deployment of digital radio broadcasting, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had suo-motu issued a consultation paper on “Issues related to Digital Radio Broadcasting in India” on 10th July 2017. Written comments and counter comments on the consultation paper were invited from the stakeholders by 4th September, 2017 and 18th September, 2017. All the comments received were posted on TRAI’s website. Subsequently, an Open House Discussion was also held in New Delhi on 25th October 2017. The Authority after carefully examining various issues emanating from the written submissions of the stakeholders, Open House Discussions, International practices and its own analysis has arrived at its recommendations.

After carefully examining and analysing various issues emanating from the written submissions of the stakeholders and the Open House Discussions, the Authority has finalised its recommendations The Authority expects that the recommendations would enable a smooth transition from analog to digital radio broadcasting services, without disruption of the existing FM Radio services. The full text of the recommendations is available here.