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Tag: ICEA

  • TRAI releases recommendations on FM radio broadcasting

    TRAI releases recommendations on FM radio broadcasting

    Mumbai: The Telecom Regulatory Authority India (TRAI) has released recommendations on FM radio broadcasting in order to discuss various issues related to FM Radio broadcasting.

    In order to discuss various issues related to FM Radio broadcasting, TRAI held a meeting with representatives of AROI on 5 August 2022. Representatives of AROI, inter-alia, raised the following issues for consideration of the authority:

    (i) Permitting private FM Radio channels to broadcast independent news bulletins

    (ii) Availability of FM Radio receivers in mobile handsets

    After considering all comments or counter-comments received from stakeholders during the consultation process and further analysis of the issues, the Authority has finalised its recommendations. The salient features of the recommendations are given below:

    (1) The annual licence fee of a FM radio channel should be de-linked from NOTEF.

    (ii) The license fee should be calculated as four percent of the Gross Revenue (GR) of the FM radio channel during the respective financial year. GST should be excluded from Gross Revenue (GR).

    (iii) The Government may take appropriate measures to provide relief to the FM radio operators to address challenges posed due to Covid-19 pandemic.

    (iv) Private FM Radio operators should be allowed to broadcast news and current affairs programs, limited to 10 minutes in each clock hour.

    (v) The program code of conduct as applicable to All India Radio for news content may also be applied to Private FM Radio channels.

    (vi) Functions or features pertaining to FM radio should remain enabled and activated on all mobile handsets having the necessary hardware. Built-in FM radio receivers in mobile handset must not be subjected to any form of disablement or deactivation.

    (vii) A Standing Committee, headed by a senior officer of Joint Secretary or above level, to oversee and monitor the compliance by mobile phone manufacturers (or importers) may be established by MeitY. The committee should include key stakeholders such as MIB, AROI, MAlT, and ICEA.

    (viii) An online grievance redressal portal should be provided for submitting information or complaints in case of any noncompliance as regards enablement of FM radio functionality in such mobile handsets that have the necessary functionality for FM receivers.

     

  • Flipkart launches sell-back program ahead of the festive season

    Flipkart launches sell-back program ahead of the festive season

    Mumbai: Flipkart is enabling a “sell-back program” ahead of the festive season. The programme offers a safe and convenient option to sell old phones to network partners. Customers can truly upgrade via the sell-back program by selling their used mobile phones while receiving the right buy-back value in their bank account.

    As a part of this program, an objective 10-grade system will guide the partners in valuing the used phones. The process is seamless and hassle-free with attractive value, quick payment, speedy doorstep pick-up, and a safe and secure sales network for customers.

    The programme was launched following extensive research. If we talk about the data, India is the second largest smartphone market and the fastest growing market for second-hand smartphones in the world. In 2021, around 25 million smartphones were traded in the second-hand market and are expected to rise to 51 million units at a valuation of $4.6 billion by 2025, as per a report by IDC and the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

    Around 70 per cent of people don’t sell their old phones, mainly because of the lack of a trusted platform that can provide good prices, the convenience of selling, and assurance of data safety. With this, the launch of the “sell-back program” is a significant step in that direction. With the acquisition of Yaantra, which has a robust device quality assessment capability, Flipkart has strengthened its foothold in the re-commerce industry.

    Commenting on the launch of the program, Flipkart senior vice president & head-new business Adarsh Menon said, “As the festive season approaches, more people look at options to upgrade and purchase the latest devices and mobiles. Consequently, there has been the emergence of an ever-growing market for re-selling devices that are highly unorganised, unsafe, and difficult to navigate. With the “sell-back program,” we hope to offer our customers a safe, convenient, and environmentally friendly option that guarantees the best value and prompt payment. We have received strong adoption and interest for this program, which witnesses approximately one crore customers every month from across the country. At Flipkart, we consider it a priority to work towards bringing smart tech-enabled solutions to customers and helping in reducing the generation of e-waste, which is a crucial step in creating a sustainable economy.”

  • Digital radio technology can double broadcast sector’s revenue in five years: ICEA-EY report

    Digital radio technology can double broadcast sector’s revenue in five years: ICEA-EY report

    Mumbai: The adoption of digital radio technology will help the broadcast sector double its revenues within five years to Rs. 12,300 crore, according to a report prepared by the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and EY.

    The report shows that digital radio broadcasting can be extremely beneficial for all the stakeholders in the sector—broadcasters, listeners, advertisers, and regulators—and can help the FM radio segment boost revenues. This comes at a time when the FM radio segment has been struggling to generate robust revenues over the past few years.

    It would lead to more advertising inventory to sell with the ability to charge higher rates based on segmented audiences. Given that the digital radio system can provide listenership data, broadcasters can build trust and eventually grow revenues.

    Another significant benefit of these technologies for broadcasters is that their transmitters use significantly less power than analogue radio transmitters.

    India has also tested two technologies – HD radio and digital radio mondiale (DRM), for digital broadcasting in the FM band.

    ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo stated, “India is a heterogeneous market and provides audience segments with differing tastes as well as payment capabilities. Digital broadcast radio has the ability to cater to segments of entry-level smartphones and several hundred million feature phone users to receive enhanced services in the areas of health, education, emergency, and weather, which by complementing data networks, decongests them. Communication usage with IOT devices is next envisaged in the pipeline too.”

    Citing the report, Mohindroo said, “Digital technologies would go a long way in widening the network of broadcast infrastructure in the country and the number of radio stations would grow multifold from the current numbers of less than 300 to over 1,100 without any additional spectrum.”

    EY India partner Ashish Pherwani said, “Digital radio can provide a much-needed boost to the Indian radio segment. As a free-to-air medium, radio plays a very vital role in India’s informing and educating its people. Systemic issues around measurement, reach, operating models, competing products, and COVID-19 impacted the segment with failing revenues and shrinking opportunities. Digital radio can help grow the radio segment in India by 3x over 5 years, if implemented keeping in mind the requirements of various stakeholders and with the correct policy support.”

    According to the report, the number of channels will increase significantly from the perspective of listeners. Around 4x more channels are possible within the same frequency, which can provide more options to listeners. Furthermore, the technology is broadcast-centric, and consumers would not have to pay any data charges. Analogue transmission would also be enhanced as it provides a better listening experience than digital transmission across both audio quality and user interface.

    Digital technologies would also bring about major reforms for the regulators as it would result in optimum use of scarce spectrum in the middle and long term and lead to increased taxes from increased revenues. It would also allow the authorities to use digital radio infrastructure for emergency warnings and traffic information.

    The report prepared by ICEA and EY noted that a complete transition from analogue to digital radio infrastructure would take three to five years. Radio broadcasters cannot enable a switch-on-switch-off transition to digital radio as they are dependent on linear FM reach for their revenues. This would mean that analogue and digital broadcasting will need to exist in parallel till adequate reach is achieved.

    Consequently, for some years, there would be no spectrum saving, said the report. The report has recommended innovation around cost-effective chipsets, antennas, and software to drive quicker adoption of digital radio. It has also been said that competing products using low bandwidth data and consensus on music royalties are issues that need to be addressed.