Digital Radio: A New Era to Unleash – Ashruf El-dinary, Senior Vice President, Xperi Corporation

Yes.“digitalradio”isatechnology that allows radio stations to transmit programming and other information with better quality and more content. Today, most radio stations still transmit in “analogue,” as they have since the 1920s. That analogue transmission provides you, the listener, with the music, news, or talk programme on your radio receiver.

“Digital Radio” provides modernization for broadcasting. With “Digital Radio” radio stations can utilise advanced technology to send the content digitally with much higher sound quality. The digital radio station can also send multiple audio programs as well as vital text information. If you have a digital radio receiver or HD Radio-enabled mobile phone, it will automatically tune to the new digital programme and decode the digital radio information to allow you to select from several different audio programmes on the same frequency. HD Radio technology will also send programme-related text information and even pictures associated with the programme.

That sounds very futuristic. Your digital radio system is called HD Radio and it is used throughout North America, as well as the Philippines and Romania. How does it work? The HD Radio system from Xperi Corporation is digital radio broadcasting for AM and FM radio stations. It is a unique broadcast system which enables radio station operators to transmit this new digital broadcast simulcast with their analogue broadcast on the same transmitter and existing frequencies. Our system serves over 400 million people daily. It provides very efficient use of the radio spectrum and allows radio broadcasters to maintain their current operations and programming while upgrading to the new services. This service allows existing analogue radio receivers to listen to the current radio programme, while the new HD Radio receivers and mobile phones can listen to the existing analogue plus new digital programmes.

Is HD Radio popular? Yes, HD Radio broadcasting is the most successful digital AM and FM broadcast service in the world. Our HD Radio team at Xperi partners with over 2,400 radio stations and provides more than 4,200 digital radio channels. These radio stations operate in many major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto, Montreal, Manila, Mexico City, Bucharest. Listeners experience the clear audio programming from their local radio stations 24 hours each day. This system has been operating for over 15 years.

Why should I want to listen to HD Radio? That is an excellent question. Many people listen to HD Radio services for the hi-fidelity audio quality of their favourite programmes. The audio is clear and free from hiss and pops and other interference that you often hear on analogue radio. And they have discovered the new audio programs made possible by HD Radio technology. With our digital radio multicast technology, listeners are enjoying more radio programmes on HD2 and HD3 audio channels. Many radio stations are creating new music channels, broadcasting sporting events, and even offering talk shows in other languages.

Listeners will have a multimedia experience. The HD Radio broadcast provides programme-related pictures synchronized with the audio. This can include images of the station logo, images of the music artist, and even the album cover.

But more importantly, the HD Radio service allows listeners to stay in touch with the local community. You can stay connected with your community. One of the key features is emergency notification and alerts. The service allows radio stations to constantly serve and inform their local communities and warn of event such as storms, fires, and other threatening events. Delivering emergency alerts and safety information is a very important part of the HD Radio service.

Is this expensive for me? Not at all. HD Radio services do not have any subscription fees and are free to the listener. All you need is an HD Radio receiver or mobile phone to enjoy the digital broadcast. HD Radio products are available for the car, home, and even on mobile phones in many markets with costs starting around 1300 rupees.

Why is HD Radio important for India? Digital Radio broadcasting fulfills the Digital India initiative for radio. The HD Radio system will establish a world-class broadcast network to serve the citizens of India.

Most other technologies are transitioning or already fully transitioned to digital services. Radio broadcasting provides a very critical public service by delivering important information to virtually the entire population in multiple languages simultaneously. Not everyone has ready access to internet and data services, especially in rural regions. HD Radio digital broadcast services will allow the entire population to have access to national, regional, and local information and entertainment programmes in several languages. HD Radio capability can easily and inexpensively be integrated into mobile handsets for ease of use and will provide realtime emergency and disaster notification in the palm of your hand.

When can I get HD Radio? We are currently working with local radio stations to support the conversion to HD Radio broadcasting. We will have demonstration trials in Delhi in the fall of 2019. ■

The author is a Senior Vice President at Xperi Corporation. He has worked on digital radio broadcasting and the HD Radio system since 1998.