The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to usher in digital radio broadcasting, marking a decisive shift from analogue to simulcast services across major cities.
The recommendations, released on Friday, chart the framework for a Digital Radio Broadcast Policy that would permit existing FM radio stations to add digital layers to their allotted frequencies. TRAI has further advised that India should adopt a uniform technology standard in the VHF Band II spectrum, to be finalised after consultation with broadcasters and receiver manufacturers.
To spearhead the transition, the authority has identified 13 cities for the initial rollout. Four metros, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, will be joined by nine A category cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur and Nagpur. Two new frequencies will be auctioned in each of these cities, with reserve prices pegged according to market potential. Mumbai leads the list with a base price of Rs 194.08 crore, followed by Delhi (Rs 177.63 crore), Chennai (Rs 146.68 crore) and Kolkata (Rs 79.96 crore). Bengaluru has been fixed at Rs 87.22 crore, Hyderabad at Rs 65.85 crore, Pune at Rs 41.26 crore, Ahmedabad at Rs 40.44 crore, Nagpur at Rs 29.48 crore, Jaipur at Rs 26.89 crore, Surat at Rs 25.89 crore, Lucknow at Rs 24.59 crore and Kanpur at Rs 20.52 crore.
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The draft policy envisions a simulcast model, where one analogue, three digital and one data channel can be transmitted over a single frequency. While new licensees will be required to operate in this mode, existing broadcasters will have the option to migrate on a voluntary basis.
Migration, however, comes with conditions. Broadcasters choosing to shift will need to pay the difference between auction-determined prices and the proportionate entry fee already deposited for their current licence. They must also operationalise digital services within two years of securing the frequency, failing which the licence will be revoked and re-allotment barred for five years in the same city.
The authority has refrained from fixing a suns
et date for analogue broadcasting, stating that the timeline will be decided after assessing the penetration and progress of digital services. Existing operators will be given six months from the end of the auction process to decide on migration.
TRAI has also proposed that the government introduce an authorisation mechanism for radio broadcasting infrastructure providers, enabling them to lease active and passive digital infrastructure to private players. In addition, it has recommended that Prasar Bharati extend its land, towers and transmission facilities to private broadcasters at concessional rates, while recovering operational costs.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had sought TRAI’s advice on formulating the digital policy in April last year. The latest recommendations are being seen as the first concrete step towards modernising India’s FM radio landscape and aligning it with global broadcasting standards.
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