Business APAC
April 30, 2025
Get this – soon, watching live cricket or news on your phone in India might not use up your data plan or need Wi-Fi at all! HMD Global (the company making HMD and Nokia phones) and the Indian phone brand Lava have a new plan. They’re launching phones using Direct-to-Mobile tech, or D2M for short. Direct-to-Mobile India. This tech lets phones stream shows and more using simple broadcast signals, not the internet. They shared this news right before a big tech event, WAVES 2025, kicks off here in Mumbai on May 1st.
How Does This D2M Thing Work?
So, what exactly is D2M? Think of it like your phone having a tiny TV antenna built right inside. Special chips inside the phone (made by companies like India’s Tejas Networks) pick up signals sent through the air.
These aren’t internet signals; they’re broadcast signals, kind of like how old TVs used to get channels. Direct-to-Mobile India. This way, you can get live TV, sports updates, news, educational shows, and important safety alerts straight to your screen. And the cool part? No internet needed!
Why This is a Big Deal for India
This new tech could be a game-changer here in India. Direct-to-Mobile India Here’s why it matters:
- Many people live where the internet connection is spotty or just not available. Direct-to-Mobile India D2M gives them a way to finally get digital shows and important news. It might even help families who don’t own a TV get video programs.
- Mobile data isn’t free. With D2M, people can watch broadcast stuff without burning through their data allowance or facing extra charges.
- It’s also a super reliable way to receive emergency alerts from the government, even if regular phone networks crash during a bad storm or other crisis.
- Plus, it helps take some load off the busy mobile internet networks. Direct-to-Mobile India. It also fits perfectly with the ‘Make in India’ push, since key tech partners are right here in India.
Who’s Making These Phones?
HMD and Lava aren’t going it alone. They’ve teamed up with partners who know this tech well. These include FreeStream Technologies (linked with IIT-Kanpur), Tejas Networks (who make the important D2M chip), and even US broadcast tech experts Sinclair Inc.
Lava has already said they’re making a D2M feature phone. You can expect it to have the basics needed, like a proper antenna for the signals and a decent battery.
HMD plans to roll out several affordable D2M phones. They’ll likely start with simpler feature phones, but they’ve hinted about possibly making D2M smartphones and tablets down the road, too.
What’s the Plan Now?
This isn’t just an idea on paper. Direct-to-Mobile India’s public broadcaster, Prasar Bharati, already ran successful tests of D2M in several cities, working with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks. The next step? HMD and Lava are getting ready for bigger, country-wide tests.
You can catch a first glimpse of these new D2M phones at the WAVES 2025 event happening in Mumbai from May 1st to 4th.
Will they cost a fortune? Well, putting the special D2M chip inside might make the phones a little bit more expensive initially. But, the makers are confident that once they start producing lots of them, that extra cost could drop way down, maybe adding just ₹120 to ₹200 to the price of each phone.
Looking Ahead
This whole D2M push by HMD and Lava feels like a positive move for India. Direct-to-Mobile India: Giving people internet-free access to TV and information could truly change how millions use their phones every day, especially folks living outside the major cities. Direct-to-Mobile India keeps an ear out for more news about these phones after the upcoming tests!
Also Read: Trump’s New Tariffs Could Trigger a Manufacturing Boom in India – Here’s Why
