The DRM Consortium, in collaboration with BECIL, hosted a high-level round
table meeting in New Delhi on January 31st. The aim of the event was to update
and stimulate the interest of key Indian stakeholders in the public phase launch
of the project to digitise radio in India, following the successful installation
of 35 DRM digital radio transmitters by All India Radio (AIR).
The event was inaugurated by
the Honourable Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, Indian Minister for Information &
Broadcasting, who congratulated All India Radio and Prasar Bharati on the
successful completion of the first phase of the DRM project. “AIR has
re-invented itself through its digital transmitters based on the International
ITU standard Digital Radio Mondiale, fulfilling the vision of ‘digital India’
laid out by the Prime Minister”. Looking to the future, he went on to say that:
“…this is the time for all stakeholders in India to work together – from public
and private Broadcasters to radio and automotive manufacturers to retailers – to
make digital radio in India a big national success for the benefit of all
Indians, and to turn it into a beacon project.”
The event was attended by over
120 participants representing several government ministries and agencies; radio
receiver manufacturers; automobile manufacturers; private FM broadcasters; the
Indian Association of Cellular Manufacturers; the Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII); National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); BECIL; and DRM
experts.
All those present enjoyed the
various receiver demonstrations and listened to a live DRM broadcast on the
latest in-car receiver presented by Hyundai.