New Delhi: A symposium on 'Emerging Trends and Technologies in the Broadcasting Sector' was held on October 17 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress (IMC-2024). The event explored the transformative potential and practical applications of emerging technologies within the broadcasting industry, focusing on immersive technologies, D2M, 5G broadcasting, and digital radio. More than 100 national and international participants, including key stakeholders from the broadcasting industry, technology giants, device manufacturers, and government representatives, gathered to engage in insightful discussions about the future of broadcasting in the digital age.

The symposium was structured in three back-to-back sessions designed to cover significant topics shaping the broadcasting landscape. The sessions were chaired by distinguished industry leaders and officials from the government, including Vishal Arya, Head of Technology at Tata Play Ltd., Ashok Kumar, DDG, DoT, and Syed Tausif Abbas, DDG, DoT. Expert speakers from renowned organizations, including specialists from the broadcasting sector and device and network manufacturers, contributed to the discussions.

The first session, titled ‘Use of Immersive Technologies in the Broadcasting Landscape,’ delved into how technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) can revolutionise content creation and consumption in broadcasting. Experts from the broadcasting domain, alongside technology innovators, presented use cases to highlight how immersive technologies can enhance viewer engagement, create richer experiences, and reshape the future of media content delivery.

The second session, ‘D2M and 5G Broadcasting: Opportunities and Challenges,’ discussed two major technological standards, namely ATSC 3.0 and 5G broadcasting (based on the 3GPP standard), to facilitate seamless direct reception of content to mobile handsets. This development has the potential to transform how users access and consume media. The session also covered ongoing trials and challenges such as the requirements for infrastructure, spectrum, and the end device ecosystem.

The final session, ‘Digital Radio Technology: Deployment Strategies in India,’ examined strategies for deploying digital radio in the Indian market. Experts discussed the advantages of digital radio, including superior sound quality, spectrum efficiency, and the ability to deliver multimedia services, along with the challenges and solutions for interoperability with existing analogue networks. This discussion aims to enable a smoother transition to digital broadcasting.

These discussions are expected to play a crucial role in shaping future policies for the broadcasting sector in India, ensuring the development of an inclusive and innovative broadcasting ecosystem. For detailed information about the session’s content, Deepak Sharma, Advisor (B&CS), TRAI, can be contacted at advbcs-2@trai.gov.in.

BI Bureau