MUMBAI: Static is out, digital is in. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has turned up the volume on the country’s radio landscape with fresh recommendations to kick-start digital radio broadcasting in India’s biggest markets.
The policy blueprint covers four A+ cities Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and nine A cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Jaipur. Reserve prices have been set for spectrum auctions, ranging from a hefty Rs 194.08 crore for Mumbai to Rs 20.52 crore for Kanpur.
So what’s the buzz? Under TRAI’s plan, new broadcasters will launch in simulcast mode, meaning one frequency can now beam one analogue, three digital and one data channel. Existing FM players will be allowed to migrate voluntarily within six months of auctions, by paying a migration fee linked to auction prices and their earlier entry fees.
The regulator is also pushing for a single digital radio technology standard for India, with the government tasked to finalise it either through consultations or embedding it into the spectrum auction process.
Broadcasters opting in must get their simulcast services on air within two years, with licences lasting 15 years. A sunset date for analogue FM will come later, depending on digital adoption.
The money matters are equally detailed: an annual authorisation fee of 4 per cent of Adjusted Gross Revenue for most cities, dropping to 2 per cent for the first three years in border, hilly and island territories. Flexible payment instalments, spread across 15 years, mirror telecom spectrum auctions protecting the government’s Net Present Value (NPV) while easing upfront pressure on broadcasters.
In a move sure to please commuters and audiophiles, TRAI has urged the government to push manufacturers to ensure digital receivers are built into mobile phones and car infotainment systems. Meanwhile, Prasar Bharati may be asked to share its towers and infrastructure with private players at concessional rates.
From opening auctions for two new spot frequencies per city to freeing broadcasters to choose their own genres, the roadmap aims to democratise India’s airwaves while adding sparkle to an industry often accused of playing the same old tune.
For listeners, it means better sound quality, more choice and even value-added services riding on those data channels. For broadcasters, it’s a new stage to perform on and this time, the spotlight is firmly digital.
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