The Indian Government has issued an advisory notice to mobile phone manufacturers to include FM radio functionality in their devices. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) urged mobile makers not to disable the FM radio receiver function if it is available in the phone and asked those who do not have the feature to include it. The advisory notice comes at a time when the government is expanding the network of FM transmitters across the country to improve communication during natural disasters and emergencies.
Why FM Radio?
FM broadcast is a robust and reliable communication system that plays an important role in linking local authorities and people during times of natural disasters. It is the most effective way of delivering early warnings and alerts to the public, which can help save lives. MeitY highlighted the availability of a vast network of FM transmitters and FM radio in the country as playing a key role in India’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government’s recent installation of 91 Low Power FM Transmitters with a capacity of 100 Watt at 91 locations across 84 districts in 20 states, along with the approval of 63 more FM transmitters, will boost the coverage of All India Radio (AIR) to 73.5% of the population of the country. The government has cited the clear sound quality and easy availability of FM receiver equipped mobile phones as contributing to the increased demand for FM radio service in the country.
However, despite most System-on-Chips (SoCs) supporting FM radio functionality, many mobile manufacturers have disabled this feature. The government’s advisory notice to the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and the Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAID) is an attempt to change this trend. The government has requested that the advisory be circulated among all mobile phone manufacturers/brands on a priority basis.
Finally. the Indian Government’s advisory notice to mobile phone manufacturers to include FM radio functionality in their devices is a positive step towards promoting FM radio as a robust communication system in the country. With the expansion of the FM transmitter network, FM radio can serve as a crucial communication link during natural disasters and emergencies. Additionally, the inclusion of FM radio functionality in mobile phones can help increase access to FM radio service, benefiting the public and local authorities alike.
