Government advises phone manufacturers to add FM Radio – Times of India

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India has issued an advisory notification to mobile phone manufacturers, urging them to ensure that the FM radio receiver function or feature is not disabled in phones sold in the country.
Additionally, they have requested that manufacturers who do not currently include this feature should consider including it in their phones.
Earlier, all phones used to have built-in FM radio, even smartphones. However, it has become a sort of rarity in recent years and is only seen in feature phones.
According to the ministry, FM broadcast serves as a sturdy and dependable communication system, particularly in natural disasters when it is a vital link between local authorities and the public. This system is considered the most potent and efficient means of disseminating early warnings and informing people to take action to protect themselves.
The Ministry also highlighted the significance of the vast network of FM transmitters and FM radio available in India, which played a crucial role in the country’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 100 Watt Low Power FM Transmitters at 91 locations across 84 districts in 20 states. Now, the network of transmitters with All India Radio has increased from 524 to 615, which will further enhance the coverage of AIR to 73.5% of the country’s population.
The government has also approved the installation of an additional 63 FM transmitters across the nation. During the inauguration, the government mentioned that the demand for FM radio service has increased due to the availability of FM receiver-equipped mobile phones and clear sound quality.
The Indian government has urgently asked the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) and Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAID) to distribute the advisory to all mobile phone manufacturers and brands.