TRAI Proposes New Digital Radio Policy for Private Broadcasters in India
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has introduced a Consultation Paper titled ‘Formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for Private Radio Broadcasters.’ This initiative aims to transition from the current analogue terrestrial systems to digital radio broadcasting.
Current Radio Broadcasting in India
Radio broadcasting in India currently operates through analogue systems across Medium Wave (MW), Short Wave (SW), and the VHF-II spectrum bands. The VHF-II band, commonly known as the FM band, operates within the 88-108 MHz range using Frequency Modulation (FM) technology. Public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) offers services across MW, SW, and FM bands, while private broadcasters are limited to the FM band.
Advantages of Digital Radio
Digital radio can broadcast multiple channels—up to three or four—on a single-frequency carrier, significantly improving audio quality. In contrast, analogue systems allow for only one channel per frequency. This shift is expected to provide private radio broadcasters with new business opportunities and offer listeners enhanced services and a superior listening experience.
Progress in Digitisation
All India Radio has already digitised its MW and SW broadcast networks by replacing 38 analogue transmitters with digital ones. AIR has also tested digital radio technologies in the FM band. However, private FM radio broadcasters have yet to initiate their own digitisation efforts.
TRAI’s Recommendations and Consultation Process
In 2018, TRAI recognised the need for a coordinated effort to build a comprehensive ecosystem for digital radio broadcasting. It recommended bringing together key stakeholders—radio broadcasters, transmission equipment manufacturers, and digital radio receiver manufacturers—to drive the development of digital radio in India. TRAI also urged the government to create a detailed policy framework with a clear timeline for the rollout of digital radio services.
On April 23, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) requested TRAI’s recommendations for formulating a digital radio broadcast policy specifically for private radio broadcasters. The MIB acknowledged that some provisions under the existing FM Phase-III policy may need to be revised to adapt to technological advancements. With this in mind, TRAI has launched a consultation process to gather input from stakeholders on various aspects of formulating a digital radio broadcast policy.
Doubts Revealed
TRAI -: TRAI stands for Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. It is a government body that makes rules and guidelines for telecommunication services in India.
Consultation Paper -: A Consultation Paper is a document that asks for opinions and suggestions from people and organizations before making a new rule or policy.
digital radio -: Digital radio is a type of radio that uses digital signals instead of analogue ones. This allows for better sound quality and more channels on the same frequency.
analogue systems -: Analogue systems are the traditional way of broadcasting radio signals. They use continuous signals, which can sometimes have lower sound quality.
All India Radio -: All India Radio is the national public radio broadcaster of India. It is owned by the government and provides radio services across the country.
private broadcasters -: Private broadcasters are radio stations that are owned by private companies or individuals, not by the government.
stakeholder input -: Stakeholder input means getting feedback and opinions from all the people and organizations that will be affected by the new policy.
