Direct-To-Mobile Broadcasting Without Internet May Become Reality Soon

Mobile users in the country may get the capability to stream videos without a SIM card or an Internet connection, as Direct-to-Mobile broadcasting may becomes a reality.

The D2M broadcasting technology is developed by Saankhya Labs and IIT Kanpur.

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Mobile users in the country may get the capability to stream videos without a SIM card or an Internet connection, as Direct-to-Mobile broadcasting may becomes a reality, says a report by news agency PTI. Speaking at a Broadcasting Summit, Apurva Chandra, Secretary of Information and Broadcasting, announced upcoming trials of the domestically developed Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology in 19 cities across the country. 

The government is keen to introduce D2M technology by 2025 that enables multimedia content on smartphones without requiring an active Internet connection.

Chandra advocated strongly for allocating the 470-582 MHz spectrum to support the growth of this emerging technology, the report added.

Chandra added that a transition of 25-30 per cent of video traffic to D2M could alleviate congestion on 5G networks, fostering the country's digital advancement and democratising content delivery.

While a formal timeline has not been set and the government will not mandate handset makers to adopt D2M, the technology has received support from all ministries, says a report by Business Standard.

Developed by Saankhya Labs and IIT Kanpur, the D2M broadcasting technology leverages terrestrial telecommunications infrastructure and public broadcaster-assigned spectrum to transmit video, audio, and data signals directly to compatible mobile and smart devices. With the potential to reach over a billion mobile devices, the adoption of D2M technology promises transformative benefits, including cost reductions in data transmission and access, improvements in network efficiency and resilience, and potentially leading to the establishment of a nationwide emergency alert system, the PTI report noted.

Last year, pilot programmes to test the D2M technology were carried out in Bengaluru, Kartavya Path and Noida. Chandra said the D2M technology would help reach nearly 8-9 crore “TV Dark” homes across the country. Of the 280 million households in the country, only 190 million have television sets.