Govt prepares for D2M rollout, it will let you watch TV on phone without internet

You may soon be able to watch live TV on your phone without needing the internet or even a mobile network. Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is expected to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the commercial rollout of Direct-to-Mobile, or D2M, broadcasting.As per a report from Exchange4Media, Prasar Bharati is likely to issue the RFP next month, marking the next step in bringing D2M tech from trials to wider deployment. Though the exact timeline remains unclear for now. The plan has reportedly gathered pace after technology validation tests involving equipment developed by Tejas Networks cleared government review.D2M broadcasting allows users to stream live TV, audio, or receive news updates and emergency alerts on their mobile phones without needing a cellular connection.What is Direct-to-Mobile broadcasting?D2M does not rely on the cellular network you otherwise you use for calls or the internet. Instead, D2M works similarly to how an FM radio works on a smartphone, where a receiver taps into radio frequencies. This technology is usually used for sending emergency alerts to citizens. However, a commercial rollout may allow for users to receive live news, sports and other multimedia content. D2M can be useful in areas where internet connectivity is weak.Since it does not rely on a mobile network, you would not need to consume data from your data plan either. D2M can also potentially reduce pressure on mobile data networks. However, the report adds, private telecom operators have raised concerns over D2M, as it could impact their business. Studies commissioned by Prasar Bharati and conducted by IIT Kanpur found that D2M broadcasting in the 470-582 MHz band does not cause harmful interference to cellular networks or lead to abnormal heating of smartphones.Prasar Bharati, working with IIT Kanpur and Saankhya Labs, now part of Tejas Networks, has been conducting D2M trials in more than 19 cities. Earlier proof-of-concept demonstrations in Delhi and Bengaluru had shown that multimedia content could be transmitted directly to mobile devices. A report by EY has recommended a public-private partnership model and a long-term commercial framework for nationwide deployment.The wider rollout still faces hardware and infrastructure hurdles. According to IIT Kanpur's 2022 roadmap paper, most currently available mobile devices do not support D2M because the technology requires the ATSC 3.0 standard. That would need a separate baseband processing unit along with an antenna, low-noise amplifiers, baseband filters and a receiver. The present network setup is also not ready for large-scale D2M transmission and would require a denser network of terrestrial towers.The government has also presented D2M as a possible answer to gaps in TV access. Official estimates have said that out of roughly 280 million households in India, about 190 million have access to TV services, leaving nearly 90 million. With the country having a large mobile-device base, the proposed RFP could help fill this gap.- Ends