TRAI releases Recommendations on “Formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private Radio broadcasters”
TRAI releases Recommendations on “Formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private Radio broadcasters”
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released its Recommendations on “Formulating a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy for private Radio broadcasters” along with terms and conditions and reserve price for commencement of digital radio broadcasting service in four ‘A+’ category cities viz., Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai; and nine ‘A’ category cities viz., Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Nagpur.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) vide its reference dated 23rd April 2024 had sought recommendations of TRAI under section 11 (1)(a)(i) of the TRAI Act, 1997 on formulating a digital radio broadcast policy for private Radio broadcasters.
In this regard, a consultation paper was issued on 30th September 2024 seeking stakeholders’ comments on various issues relating to formulation of digital radio broadcast policy for private radio broadcasters. 43 comments and 13 counter-comments were received on the consultation paper, which are available on TRAI’s website. Subsequently, an Open House Discussion was held on 8th January 2025.
After considering all comments/counter-comments received and further analysis of the issues, the Authority has finalized its recommendations. The salient features of the recommendations are as below:
City
Category
RP for Spectrum for Simulcast
(Rs. in crore)
Chennai
A+
146.68
Delhi
A+
177.63
Kolkata
A+
79.96
Mumbai
A+
194.08
Ahmedabad
A
40.44
Bengaluru
A
87.22
Hyderabad
A
65.85
Jaipur
A
26.89
Kanpur
A
20.52
Lucknow
A
24.59
Nagpur
A
29.48
Pune
A
41.26
Surat
A
25.89
duly protecting the NPV.
duly protecting the NPV.
Digital Radio broadcasting will provide a number of advantages over analogue radio broadcasting. The major advantage of Digital Radio broadcasting as proposed by TRAI in these recommendations is the capability of broadcasting three digital and one data channel, in addition to one analog channel on a single spot frequency in simulcast mode, in which the digital radio channel provide a superior quality of audio, whereas in the analogue mode broadcasting of only one channel is possible on the carrier frequency. In a competitive environment, digital radio broadcasting can provide new opportunities to radio broadcasters as well as multiple listening options and value-added services to the listeners.
The full text of the Recommendations is available on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information, Dr. Deepali Sharma, Advisor (Broadcasting & Cable Services), TRAI may be contacted at Tele. No.: +91-11- 20907774.
- The digital radio services should be commenced in Simulcast mode by new broadcasters. The existing analog FM Radio broadcasters should also be permitted to migrate to simulcast mode on voluntary basis.