The government is promoting direct-to-mobile (D2M) broadcasting as a transformative technology to deliver video, audio and data directly to mobile handsets without requiring SIM cards or internet connectivity, the Lok Sabha was informed yesterday.

In a written reply,हमारी टीम | Ministry of Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan said D2M, along with digital radio, optimises spectrum use by enabling multiple channels over a single frequency, creating an affordable and free-to-air ecosystem for content delivery.

He said the technology can serve as a robust medium for dissemination of entertainment, educational content and critical information such as emergency and disaster alerts, significantly enhancing public communication infrastructure.

The Minister added that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is supporting the adoption of such emerging technologies through policy interventions, including the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme.

Under the scheme, Prasar Bharati is upgrading Doordarshan and Akashvani networks through digitalisation and deployment of modern equipment aligned with evolving technologies.

The Minister was asked by a fellow parliamentarian about the role of digital radio and D2M broadcasting as an affordable mass communication tool, the role of blockchain technology in curbing the rising curve of spam calls and messages and the steps taken by the government to support emerging technologies in the broadcasting sector.

On other regulatory aspects, the Murugan reply noted that unsolicited commercial communication (UCC), including spam calls, is governed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India under the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulations.

A distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based platform has been implemented to allow consumers to register preferences and lodge complaints against telemarketers, with mechanisms for coordinated action among service providers.

The Minister said the system also mandates registration of principal entities and telemarketers on the platform, enabling better monitoring and enforcement of regulations related to promotional communications. (Photo courtesy Tejas Networks website)