NEW DELHI. India’s FM radio sector is approaching a major digital transition as private broadcasters and device manufacturers back the rollout of HD Radio, signalling readiness to move away from analogue broadcasting. Discussions at the Broadcast Engineering Society (BES) Expo, reflected strong industry alignment, with broadcasters endorsing HD Radio as a proven and scalable technology and manufacturers prepared to integrate digital radio receivers across **smartphones, feature phones, Bluetooth speakers and automobiles**, subject to policy clarity from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. The Electronics Design & Testing Centre (EDTC), Noida, has already developed indigenous HD Radio-enabled receivers and Bluetooth speakers at affordable price points, while India’s massive device base is seen as a key advantage that could rapidly place digital radio in millions of hands and revive the vision of radio in every pocket for a new generation.
