The convergence happening between broadcast and telecommunications technologies, enabling video consumption directly on mobile phones, especially with 5G’s arrival, would also necessitate some regulatory tweaks, a top official of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said.

“The convergence between direct-to-mobile and 5G broadband will entail some changes in infrastructure and some regulatory changes”, MIB Secretary Apurva Chandra opined while speaking at a conclave on ‘Direct to Mobile and 5G Broadband – Convergence Roadmap for India’, organised in New Delhi on June 1.

Chandra went on to add the confluence of mobile and broadcast techs will also “improve consumption of broadband and utilisation of spectrum” in India.

“Almost everybody now is consuming video content through their mobiles, news can be seen on mobile through apps, and even Prasar Bharati has its own NewsOnAir app, which has a large consumer base.,” he stressed.

The event was organized by Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) in collaboration with Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI) and Prasar Bharati, a government press release said Thursday.

The conclave, which also came out with a white paper on the main theme, demonstrated nextgen broadcast technology on smart phones and other smart devices.

Delivering the inaugural address, TRAI Chairman Dr. PD Vaghela said that D2M and 5G broadcast conclave presents an opportunity to bring together broadcast, mobile, broadband, media and all other related stakeholders.

“We all know that the digitization of services has resulted in the convergence of individual delivery and consumer devices. The drive to provide broader services is stimulating the broadcast and broadband operators to converge. It is now possible for broadband services to offer broadcasting services and vice-versa,” Dr. Vaghela added.

Others who also spoke at the conclave included DoT Secretary K. Rajaraman; TSDSI Chairman NG Subramaniam; Department of Telecoms’ Member (Technology) AK Tiwari; Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati; IIT-Kanpur Director Prof Abhay Karandikar and TSDSI Director-General Pamela Kumar.

In order to spur the Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) initiative in media and broadcasting, in 2021 Prasar Bharati had entered into a pact with IIT Kanpur to develop a next-generation broadcast solution for digital terrestrial broadcasting with emerging 5G standards.

Subsequent to the collaboration, three areas have been identified to be taken up under the aegis of the Center of Excellence —direct to mobile broadcasting and convergence with emerging 5G standards; AI and advanced algorithms for audio-visual media.