Business: The government on Monday published a consultation document to help formulate policies for private digital broadcasters in the country. According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the move will bring all stakeholders – broadcasters, transmission equipment manufacturers and digital radio manufacturers – on one platform and allow them to work together to develop a digital broadcasting ecosystem.
TRAI invites comments from interested parties on various issues related to framing of a digital broadcasting policy for private radio channels. Stakeholders have been invited to submit written comments on the consultation document by October 28. Any counter-comments can be submitted by November 11. According to the agency, analog terrestrial broadcasting in India is carried out in medium wave (MW), short wave (SW) and VHF-II (FM) frequency bands.
Public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) provides radio broadcasting services in AM, SW and FM bands. Private broadcasters are allowed to broadcast programmes only in the FM frequency range (88-108 MHz). According to the government, digital broadcasting has several advantages over analog broadcasting.
