New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has floated a consultation paper to address issues pertaining to digital radio broadcasting, in a bid to enable private FM broadcasters across the country to move towards it.
According to a statement issued by the regulator, the consultation paper aims to develop an ecosystem which can encourage existing private FM broadcasters to evaluate digital radio broadcasting. There are 293 private FM radio stations across the country. AIR operates 420 radio stations.
“Analogue terrestrial radio broadcasting when compared with digital mode is inefficient and suffers with operational restrictions. Digital radio technologies can overcome problems faced in analogue transmission with exciting new capabilities and promises fast growth,” said the regulator, in a statement.
Additionally, the regulator also highlighted that digital radio broadcasting will improve the audio quality for the listeners and broadcasters will be able to air three-four programmes/channels on a single frequency (analogue mode allows broadcast of only one programme per frequency).
The authority has sought inputs from various stakeholders by 4 September and counter-comments by 18 September to access the viability and issues pertaining to digital radio broadcasting and develop a roadmap for private FM radio operators.
