Mobile users may soon be able to stream videos without a SIM card or an internet connection as Direct-to-Mobile broadcasting could become a reality in the near future.Addressing a Broadcasting Summit, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Apurva Chandra said trials of the home-grown Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology would soon be held in 19 cities and made a strong pitch for reserving the 470-582 MHz spectrum for this emerging technology.
Mr Chandra said a 25-30 per cent shift of video traffic to D2M would unclog the 5G networks, accelerating the nation’s digital evolution and democratising content delivery.Last year, pilot projects to test the D2M technology were carried out in Bengaluru, Kartavya Path and Noida.
Mr 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.He said there were 80 crore smartphones in the country and 69 per cent of content accessed by users was in the video format.
Mr Chandra said heavy use of video led to the clogging of mobile networks, which resulted in the buffering of content.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.
D2M, which stands for Direct-to-Mobile, is a revolutionary broadcasting technology that can transmit multimedia content like live TV, news, educational programs, and even emergency alerts directly to your smartphone, without needing an internet connection. It’s like a hybrid of radio and TV broadcasting, specifically designed for mobile devices.
Here’s how it works:
- Special transmitters: These are placed strategically across a region, similar to how radio towers work.
- Mobile phone compatibility: Your phone needs a built-in D2M receiver chip, which is expected to become a standard feature in future smartphones.
- Content delivery: Multimedia content is encoded and beamed through radio frequencies specifically allocated for D2M.
- Phone receives and decodes: Your phone’s D2M receiver picks up the signal, decodes it, and voila! You can watch or listen to the content directly on your phone.
D2M, which stands for Direct-to-Mobile, is a revolutionary broadcasting technology that can transmit multimedia content like live TV, news, educational programs, and even emergency alerts directly to your smartphone, without needing an internet connection. It’s like a hybrid of radio and TV broadcasting, specifically designed for mobile devices.
Here’s how it works:
- Special transmitters: These are placed strategically across a region, similar to how radio towers work.
- Mobile phone compatibility: Your phone needs a built-in D2M receiver chip, which is expected to become a standard feature in future smartphones.
- Content delivery: Multimedia content is encoded and beamed through radio frequencies specifically allocated for D2M.
- Phone receives and decodes: Your phone’s D2M receiver picks up the signal, decodes it, and voila! You can watch or listen to the content directly on your phone.
Here’s an image to illustrate the process:
What is D2M Technology
D2M technology diagram showing content being transmitted from towers to mobile phones
Benefits of D2M technology:
- Wider reach: D2M can reach people in areas with limited or no internet access, bridging the digital divide.
- Reduced data consumption: It doesn’t rely on mobile data, so users can save on their data plans.
- Emergency broadcasting: It’s ideal for sending out important alerts and information during natural disasters or other emergencies.
- Educational opportunities: Educational content can be delivered directly to students, even in remote areas.
- Entertainment options: Live TV, sports, and other entertainment can be enjoyed without buffering or data charges.
Challenges and future of D2M:
- Infrastructure development: Setting up the necessary transmitters and ensuring phone compatibility requires significant investment.
- Content creation and licensing: Creating and licensing content specifically for D2M broadcasting needs to be addressed.
- Privacy concerns: Data collection and user tracking through D2M need to be regulated to protect privacy.
Despite these challenges, D2M technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we consume information and entertainment on our mobile devices. It’s still under development, but several countries like India are actively exploring its potential. The future of D2M looks promising, and it could soon become a mainstream technology for mobile content delivery.
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