Sunil, president, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, at Sharnbasva University in Kalaburagi on Saturday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcast technology developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur is expected to greatly facilitate content delivery by allowing data and live TV programs to be transmitted directly to mobile devices without an internet connection, said Prof. Sunil, President, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers.
He was speaking after launching the IETE South Zone Seminar and IETE Student Forum (ISF) Congress-2026 at Sharnbasva University in Kalaburagi on Saturday.
When explaining the technology, Prof. Sunil said D2M uses terrestrial television to carry IP-based multimedia content. Mobile devices equipped with a special receiver chip can receive these signals in a similar way to regular TV broadcasts, without relying on mobile networks. He added that a home-grown software-defined radio chipset, currently at Tejas Networks, enables devices to decode such signals.
He noted that this technology has been integrated into laptops powered by Intel.
Highlighting its applications, he said the primary aim of the technology is to bridge the digital divide by ensuring equal access to information. It can be used to deliver educational content in areas with limited or no internet connectivity and can serve as a reliable medium for broadcasting emergency alerts and disaster management information directly to the public.
Prof. Sunil said institutions and industry are already working to launch smartphones and feature phones compatible with the new technology. Referring to broader technology trends, he said that advances in artificial intelligence are breaking down barriers in technical education and research and placing an increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.
He emphasized the need for self-reliance in technology development and said initiatives like Make in India should be extended from manufacturing to research and development. “Focused efforts in innovation and indigenous development are essential to make the country self-sufficient in emerging technologies,” he said.
Published – 28 March 2026 20:38 IST
