Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) recently issued an advisory notice to mobile makers to mobile phone makers asking them not to disable FM Radio receiver function or feature if it’s available in the phone and also asked those who don’t have the feature to include them.
A few years back most smartphones featured built-in FM radio, now only the feature phones have it. Nokia phones that were released 10 years back even had FM transmitter. Now even the latest Nokia T21 tablet has FM Radio support.
Even though most of the SoCs have FM Radio support, mobile makers disable the feature. Companies like Apple doesn’t provide FM Radio on the iPhone.
MeitY says that FM broadcast is a robust and reliable communication system, since they act as an important communication links between the local authorities and people in times of natural disasters.
It is the most powerful and effective way of delivering early warnings and alerting the public to save lives. It added that the availability of vast network of FM transmitters and FM radio in the country played a key role in India’s
fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goverment adds 91 new 100W transmitters in 18 States and 2 Union Territories
Last month, PM Modi inaugurated Low Power FM Transmitters of capacity of 100 Watt at 91 locations across 84 districts in 20 states.
With this, the network of transmitters with All India Radio has increased from 524 to 615. The addition will further boost the coverage of AIR to 73.5% of the population of the country, said the government. The Government has further approved installation of 63 more FM transmitters in the country.
At that time, the government said that clear sound quality and easy availability of FM receiver equipped mobile phones has increased the demand of FM radio service in the country.
Advisory on inbuilt FM Radio in mobile phones
The government has requested Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAID) to to circulate this advisory among all the mobile phone manufacturers / brands on priority basis.