Newsletter

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Partners

In the last few weeks DRM has seen lots of progress especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

In India AIR is now offering simulcast and pure DRM transmissions, with some extra features that give the DRM the upper hand over analogue. The Chairman of our India Chapter will give you some much anticipated details below. Please do not hesitate to send us your feedback on the DRM reception whether you are in India or abroad.

In Pakistan, our Consortium member PBC has also undertaken significant DRM activity by testing DRM for local coverage (DRM+). This was also featured in the presentations given at the ABU Digital Broadcasting Symposium in Kuala Lumpur at the beginning of the month.

A successful workshop held recently in Iran and the preparations for our presence at CABSAT in Dubai, NAB in Las Vegas and the DRM General Assembly to be held in Zurich, Switzerland in May keep us all on our toes.

If you have exciting news about you or you want your company to feature in the next Newsletter projectoffice@drm.org can tell you how!

Finally, please do not forget to join us on Twitter,YouTube and Flickr.  

And if you want to join the Consortium please contact projectoffice@drm.org. 

Ruxandra Obreja
Chair, DRM Consortium 
ruxandra.obreja@drm.org

Latest News

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) - Digital Radio for All India

Currently undergoing one of the world’s largest digital radio deployments All India Radio (AIR) the public broadcaster in India is on course to deliver the benefits of digital radio to 1.2 billion citizens across the country using DRM digital radio technology.  This ambitious project has been praised by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shri Venkaiah Naidu in January.  Yogendra Pal, the Hon Chair of the DRM India Chapter gives an update in his latest article.  Read more

DRM at Asia Broadcasting Union Digital Broadcasting Symposium (ABU DBS) 2017

The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium was fully involved at this year’s ABU DBS held from March 6-9 in Malaysia.  DRM Chairman Ruxandra Obreja gave an update on advanced DRM and DRM Vice-Chairman, Alexander Zink, Fraunhofer IIS, made a presentation on the possibilities of bringing free-to-air Journaline advanced text services to DRM receivers, to help strengthen the broadcasters’ connection to their audiences and opening new revenue opportunities.

DRM specialists from the BBC, GatesAir, TWR and the Indonesian public broadcaster RRI, held a successful workshop “Digital Radio Mondiale – Practical Implementation for Success” giving delegates an update on the best steps towards a successful introduction of DRM.  The workshop was supported by a live DRM transmission by Babcock International.  The transmission was picked up by Terje Isberg, a keen DRM DXer in Japan.

For more press reports on ABU DBS, click here and here.

Photographs from DBS can be viewed on the ABU’s Flickr site.

Pakistan Moves Towards DRM Digital Migration

Pakistan Broadcasting Radio has imported 20 FM DRM+ capable transmitters from GatesAir to launch test transmissions of DRM+ from 3 cities, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.  To publicise the transmissions, PBC is planning an international seminar in April to give maximum publicity to all stakeholders including government functionaries, regulators, broadcasters, car manufacturers, mobile phone manufacturers, equipment suppliers and the media.  

Audio Blog on Current DRM Developments from Fraunhofer IIS

In its latest audio blog, Fraunhofer IIS examines the latest developments on DRM developments.  Click here to read more.

DRM Members Head to Switzerland for this Year’s General Assembly

The 2017 DRM General Assembly (GA) will this year be hosted by key member Ampegon AG in Switzerland on 10-11 May.  Under the banner “DRM Delivers”, the GA will be held over 2 days comprising of a closed members’ only session and a session open to specially invited guests.  Read more

Where I Heard DRM

The DRM Project Office received a message from Bryan Clark from New Zealand saying:

“After investing in a DRM licence last November, I finally was able to get a readable signal yesterday of Radio Romania International's French language service on 6040kHz at 0600 UTC.

I am listening in Mangawhai, on the northeast coast of New Zealand with a WinRadio G33DDC Excalibur SDR receiver”. Bryan Clark

Please keep sending your contributions to: projectoffice@drm.org. 

Around the Web

AIR has acquired 37 DRM transmitters, in talks to get cheaper radio sets

Nautel R&D Growth

Engineering Radio Blog advocates for DRM30

Did you know?

• Following requests from our readers, we have updated the DRM schedules on our website. So please check for yourself!  List of DRM transmissions Interactive map
• Over 30 broadcasters carry regular DRM transmissions, covering almost half the world’s population.
• The DRM standard is now fully endorsed by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
• The DRM Introduction and Implementation Guide have been updated to include the ETSI revised standard and are available online, in English and Russian.
• The DRM standard as recommended by ITU and ETSI includes built-in Emergency Warning tools for swift and effective mass-notification in crises.   Listen here.
• DRM publishes a special monthly Noticeboard for India, and a new India page pulls together key DRM information on India. 
• DRM Receivers will be available in new cars coming on to the Indian market from Hyundai
• You can still contribute to www.drmrx.org.