Tuesday, April 24, 2007

All India Radio and ABU to launch DRM trial in India


The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium, All India Radio (AIR) and the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) will showcase DRM digital radio transmissions in the mediumwave band using the Single Channel Simulcast (SCS) and Multi-Channel Simulcast (MCS) technologies. The trial, targeted to medium wave radio broadcasters, equipment manufacturers, radio receiver manufacturers as well as retailers is scheduled to be launched in Delhi on 7-12 May 2007.

The showcase will also trial local DRM radio transmissions in the 26 MHz band, Near Vertical Incidence transmissions and DRM shortwave radio transmissions. ABU and AIR are assisted by the DRM Consortium and DRM’s members, Thomson and Hitachi Electric Kokusai as well as Universidad del Pais Vasco based in Spain. The project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of the relatively new technology of SCS and MSC, while broadcasting analogue and digital radio signals using only one transmitter.

“Given that this region has some of the largest number of mediumwave radio broadcasters, we believe that successful trials and measurements will pave the way for easy and cost effective transition to DRM transmissions,” said Sharad Sadhu, Head of Transmission, Technology and Spectrum in the ABU.

The associated training workshop willprovide mediumwave radio broadcasters exposure to the implementation issues and identify problem areas so that they can carry out similar trials back in their own countries.

The trial will be conducted on AIR transmitters in New Delhi where a new DRM compatible MW transmitter has recently been commissioned.

Digital Radio Mondiale Chairman Peter Senger welcomes the DRM mediumwave tests carried out by All India Radio and the ABU: “We are proud and very happy that these tests become a reality now and we would like to thank all parties involved. We see a great potential for the Digital Radio Mondiale system in Asia.”

“As a long-term partner of All India Radio, we are excited to assist in these trials,” said David Birrer, Thomson Radio Broadcasting Marketing & Strategy. “A smooth transition to DRM will bring All India Radio a lot of new possibilities for local and national services while generally enhancing the popularity of the medium. In addition, DRM makes possible a much more efficient use of the existing broadcast infrastructure.”
(Source: ABU/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)