The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, are testing the practicality of a technology (D2M), that allows video and other types of multimedia content to be transmitted directly to mobile phones without the need for an active internet connection.
The technology, known as “direct-to-mobile” (D2M) broadcasting, is based on the convergence of broadband and broadcasting, and allows mobile phones to receive terrestrial digital television. It would work in the same way that people listen to FM radio on their phones, with a receiver built into the phone that can tap into radio frequencies. Similarly, multimedia content can also be broadcasted to phones via D2M technology.
The technology’s concept is that it might be used to directly broadcast content like citizen-centric information or to combat fake news, issue alerts in case of emergency like assistance during disaster management, among other things. It can also communicate live content such as news, sports etc. directly to mobile phones.
More importantly, the content can stream without any buffering or consumption of internet data. This would radically change consumers behaviour as they would be able to access all kinds of multi-media content without exhausting their internet data, at a low cost. People in rural locations with limited or no internet access will also be able to consume video material thanks to this technology.
One of the major advantages of the technology for businesses is that it allows telecom service providers to transfer video traffic from their mobile network to the broadcast network, allowing them to free up valuable mobile spectrum. This will also enable optimisation of mobile airwaves and free up bandwidth, thereby reducing call dropouts and increasing data speeds.
The government in India is actively working towards this as last year, Prasar Bharati, a public service broadcaster, launched a partnership with IIT Kanpur to investigate the technology’s viability. DoT Secretary K Rajaraman announced the formation of a team to investigate the viability of a spectrum band for providing broadcast services directly to users’ smartphones. He stated “Band 526-582 MHz is envisaged to work in coordination with both mobile and broadcast services. DoT has set up a committee to study this band.” The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is currently using this frequency for TV transmitters across the country.
Key challenges will include bringing on board the major broadcasting service players and the infrastructural upgrade. There will be a need for legislative reforms and other large scale implementation challenges. However, to stream content without the use of internet sounds exciting if implemented.
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