DRM General Assembly Concludes with Focus on Digital Radio Innovation

The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Consortium has concluded its 2026 General Assembly in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing together broadcasters, technology providers, regulators, and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of digital radio and broadcasting innovation.

Hosted in cooperation with Radio Republik Indonesia, the assembly marked the first time the DRM Consortium held its annual gathering in the Asia-Pacific region, reflecting the growing momentum behind digital radio deployment across countries such as Indonesia, India, and China.

Among the key highlights of the event was the launch of an updated DRM Handbook, which provides broadcasters and regulators with revised technical guidance and implementation strategies for digital radio rollout. The updated handbook incorporates recent developments in digital broadcasting, including emergency warning functionality, energy efficiency, and multimedia services integration.

The General Assembly also showcased new developments in receiver technology, including the unveiling of a dual-standard DRM-DAB+ receiver platform designed to support broader digital radio adoption across multiple markets. Industry participants discussed the importance of flexible and interoperable receiver solutions as broadcasters continue transitioning from analogue to digital transmission systems.

Throughout the assembly, delegates examined the evolving role of digital radio in public communication, emergency broadcasting, education, and audience engagement. Discussions also focused on how digital broadcasting standards can help broadcasters improve spectrum efficiency while expanding multimedia capabilities and service accessibility.

For the broadcasting industry, the DRM General Assembly reinforced the continued importance of collaboration between broadcasters, manufacturers, policymakers, and technology providers in shaping the future of radio. As audience consumption habits continue shifting across platforms, digital radio remains an important part of broader discussions surrounding media modernisation, accessibility, and technological resilience.