Mumbai: HMD is preparing to roll out Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) phones in India, ahead of upcoming nationwide field trials, in collaboration with Free Stream Technologies, incubated at IIT Kanpur, and other partners. The announcement will be made at Mumbai’s World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.
The D2M technology enables users to receive live TV, video, audio, and text content directly on mobile phones without internet or Wi-Fi access. This approach leverages terrestrial TV broadcast signals to deliver content, positioning it as a potential disruptor to traditional data-driven streaming services.
Backed by Indian R&D, Tested by Public Broadcaster
The D2M platform is not entirely new to India. It has undergone multi-year testing on live networks through a collaboration between public broadcaster Prasar Bharati, IIT Kanpur, and Tejas Networks. The phones to be launched by HMD will include chipsets developed by Saankhya Labs, now part of Tejas Networks. These chips support features like emergency alerts, targeted advertising, and educational content without relying on mobile data.
Parag Naik, Executive Vice President at Tejas Networks, said the devices are built on the SL-3000 chipset and paired with a custom Core Network platform designed to expand the utility of broadcast networks.
Strategic Fit with Policy Initiatives
The project ties into larger government campaigns such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Design in India’, and the broader push for digital self-reliance. By minimising dependence on internet infrastructure, the D2M model could also reduce content delivery costs and relieve pressure on telecom networks.
Free Stream Technologies’ Director, Sumeet Nindrajog, emphasised the importance of building a device ecosystem to support nationwide deployment. He noted that mass-scale manufacturing commitments from companies like HMD could be key to ensuring consumer accessibility.
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