The government will soon start a pilot in 19 cities to test direct-to-mobile (D2M) technology that enables content or live TV to be broadcast on mobile devices without an active internet connection. Officials said the pilot would be done using Prasar Bharti’s infrastructure, following which, a call would be taken on a mass-scale rollout.

The government, though, acknowledged there are challenges around D2M technology, like availability of devices supporting it and how much content is being consumed through it, Economic Times reported.

“Launch of a pilot is the first step because there are challenges. While the technology is there, and it can be adopted, but in a device, you require a certain chip or attachment. To see how that adoption takes place, pilots will be required, Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, said.

He added that the government would also need to ascertain how much content is consumed via this technology before exploring a mass rollout.

On whether D2M technology implementation should be made mandatory for smartphone makers, he said there is no question of such a mandate as the technology is still being piloted, and subsequently too, no mandate would be there. “We are only promoting this technology as it’s going to lead to several benefits for the consumer as well as for the country,” he said during a D2M event Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Abhay Karandikar, though, said the technology is mature and available and, in a year, or so, can be launched after trials are concluded.

Karandikar also refuted concerns around telcos losing out on data revenues as the technology can co-exist with mobile internet or 5G.