Trai seeks views on forming digital radio broadcast policy

With the CP titled ‘Formulating a Digital Radio Program Policy for Private Radio Broadcasters’, the regulator has also sought talk about the duration required for various tasks associated with the movement of existing FM radio broadcasters to digital radio broadcasting.

For FM radio channels that are migrating to electronic radio broadcasting, the regulatory authority has actually asked if the annual cost of 4% of gross income only and de-linking it from non-refundable single entry fee (NOTEF) should be made applicable.

Currently, analogue terrestrial radio program in India is accomplished in tool wave (MW) (526-1606KHz), brief wave (SW) (6-22 MHz) and VHF-II (88-108 MHz), famously additionally referred to as FM band, spectrum bands.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) looks for viewpoints on just how existing FM radio broadcasters should move to electronic radio, aiming to create an electronic radio program policy. Trai calls for written comments by October 28 and counter comments by November 11.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has actually floated a consultation paper (CP) looking for views on the technique that needs to be taken on for migration of existing FM radio broadcasters to electronic radio broadcasting.

In its reference, the MIB stated that some existing stipulations under FM Phase-III policy may need a relook in order to cater to modern technology shifts. In 2018, Trai provided its suo-motu referrals advising the government to come out with a detailed plan framework for digital radio broadcasting in India.

The regulator kept in mind that digital radio broadcasting has several benefits over analogue radio broadcasting as it is capable of transmitting three to 4 networks on a solitary frequency service provider, while making sure outstanding quality of audio for all the networks. In analogue mode, just one channel broadcasting is feasible on a frequency provider.