New TRAI guidelines set terms for digital radio launch in 13 Indian cities
New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Friday released its recommendations for a digital radio broadcast policy for private broadcasters.
The guidelines set out terms, conditions, and reserve prices for launching digital radio services in four “A+” cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, and nine “A” cities: Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Nagpur.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said digital radio services will launch in simulcast mode, requiring new broadcasters to adopt the format, while existing FM operators may migrate voluntarily. Each assigned frequency will carry one analogue channel, three digital channels, and one data channel. Broadcasters must commence simulcast operations within two years of the auction process or acceptance of the migration option. The ministry added that the sunset date for analogue broadcasting will be decided later, based on the progress of digital radio adoption.
The ministry had sought TRAI’s recommendations under Section 11 of the TRAI Act, 1997. A consultation paper was released in September 2024, followed by an open house discussion in January 2025, before finalising the policy.
Authorisations under the new policy will be valid for 15 years, with fees based on adjusted gross revenue, including streaming revenue.
TRAI noted that digital radio offers several advantages, including the ability to broadcast three digital and one data channel alongside an analogue channel on a single frequency. This allows superior audio quality for digital channels, whereas analogue transmission is limited to one channel per frequency.
The authority added that digital radio could create new opportunities for broadcasters, provide multiple listening options, and offer value-added services to listeners in a competitive environment.
IANS