The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) will reportedly hold an inter-ministerial meeting on the debate over the proposed direct-to-mobile (D2M) technology in early December 2023.
As per industry sources, while the government is yet to decide on allowing the technology in India, the upcoming meeting will attempt to clarify its scope in India and collate the findings from feasibility studies so far. It may also address the confusion regarding whether only public broadcasters would use it or if private broadcasters would also be allowed. Further, the meeting will discuss the draft technical report released by the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) under DoT in August 2023, on which industry comments were sought.
In the report, the TEC labelled D2M technology as a game-changing content delivery approach that would fulfil the need for personalised and on-demand content on smartphones. It added that such broadcasting can deliver content to a large audience simultaneously without requiring an internet connection. It can also ensure emergency communication and public safety. It can be used to deliver localised content, such as news, weather updates, and advertisements.
As part of the consultation process so far, telecom operators and device makers have argued against the proposed technology. Telcos have raised their concern about revenue loss from video consumption, a key segment that continues to grow. The technology may also force telcos to rethink their 5G strategies.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is yet to release a consultation paper on the issue.
