Digital Radio Mondiale™ (DRM) Consortium Concludes General Assembly with Important Announcements
The DRM Consortium held its second virtual General Assembly on April 15th with the participation of 70 members and guests from all continents (Indonesia, Pakistan, UK, Germany, Denmark, South Africa, Hungary, Australia, India, Canada, Brazil, China and USA).
The first session, open to members and invited guests, reviewed excellent progress made in the past year in countries like India, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan and very recently in Brazil, Russia and Hungary.
The much-anticipated session on receivers did not disappoint with new prototypes, updates and developments announced by receivers and chipset manufacturers (Gospell, RF2Digital, Inntot, Cambridge Consultants, NXP, Fraunhofer IIS and Starwaves). They all announced that the new (many low-cost, low energy) receivers and receiver solutions support all the DRM bands, analogue and, the SDR solutions and even other standards. The German-Swiss Starwaves introduced its Android dongle for mobiles just launched:
https://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/en/pr/2021/20210318_ame_starwaves_drm.html
The India presentation focused on the almost 3 million DRM receivers in Indian cars. The recent DRM for FM successful trial in India also featured head unit radios with DRM AM and DRM FM integrated and working perfectly in some of the car models used during the trial. The upgrade of existing digital AM units to FM was possible and easy, without a change of hardware. As explained during the various GA sessions most of the receivers, no matter which platform (car, mobile, standalone) support the full DRM standard (AM and FM) and all the DRM features giving extra benefits like EWF (Emergency Warning Functionality), distance learning, extra content in various languages.
In the busiest activity year of the Consortium so far, participants also learned about full projects rolling out in Indonesia and Pakistan, about the successful DRM (FM) trial in Russia and DRM (SW) DRM trial in Brazil.
The recent DRM for FM trial in India had its own session and the interest was so great that the Consortium has announced a full "DRM for India Trial – Innovation and Success" webinar for May 6th.
Aspects of the current radio market, the energy savings delivered by DRM, the education project, the link with other international organisations and the improved communications gave representatives of Encompass Media Services, BBC, Fraunhofer IIS, RFmondial, Nautel, NXP, Ampegon, Dolby, Silabs, Radio Pulpit, Gospell, Kintronic Labs a chance to update and debate the issues that the Consortium will incorporate into its future strategy.
According to DRM Chairman, Ruxandra Obreja: "The DRM General Assembly was a great occasion to celebrate the great successes of the last year, achieved in conditions of world crisis. The great receiver developments and DRM demos and roll out plans all over the world have set the agenda for the coming year. The commitment, energy and support of the DRM members is our greatest asset and guarantee that DRM will be making it possible for everyone, no matter where they are and, whether they are connected to modern technology or not, to stay safe, informed and educated."
(Press Release)
