All India Radio Prepares for Digital Transmission with Thomson Megawatt Transmitters

Las Vegas (National Association of Broadcasters Convention – Booth# SL106) April 10, 2010 — All India Radio, the national radio broadcaster, has unveiled a five year program to modernize and digitize its networks. Two new Thomson megawatt radio transmitters will be supplied while the existing network of Thomson transmitters will be updated to incorporate Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) transmission.

The Ministry of Information in the Indian government has determined that the digitization programs for the country's radio broadcasting should be a smooth transition, with parallel broadcasting of analog and digital services. DRM is the perfect platform for such a program.

Working with Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL), two new Thomson 1000 kW medium-wave transmitters, with both analog and DRM exciters, will be provided. The contract includes all auxiliary work, commission, and testing – the new transmitters will be installed in late 2010.

"The order for the two megawatt transmitters is a very important step for All India Radio towards developing our digitization and modernization strategy and we've received excellent technical support throughout the entire ordering process," said S. R. Aggarwal, Chief Engineer, Chief of All India Radio.

"We have been supplying All India Radio with high-power transmitters since 1985," said Nicolas Dallery, Vice President and General Manager of the Radio/TV Transmission business unit within Grass Valley. "Today's transmitter technology enables us to give them the flexibility to migrate to DRM at their own pace. In association with our partner BECIL, we can provide a dynamic support service which gives All India Radio very good cost of ownership over the long lifetime of their network."

(Grass Valley Press Release)