Adapting Technology, RRI Immediately Implements Digital Radio Broadcasts

JAKARTA - In accordance with technological developments, RRI is preparing itself to carry out digital terrestrial broadcasts in Indonesia. This is an adaptation of future technology.

The statement was made by the Main Director of LPP RRI, Hendrasmo,  at the World DAB Summit 2023 forum, which took place in Munich, Germany, Wednesday 8 November.

The Main Director of LPP RRI, who was one of the speakers at the forum, told the forum about developments in plans for the implementation of digital broadcast technology at RRI.

"We want to immediately adopt digital technology in radio broadcasts, following the steps that have been taken by other countries, including our neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand," said Hendrasmo

For more than 8 years, RRI has been testing DAB+ technology in three locations, namely in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bandung.

According to Hendrasmo, the application of digital radio technology is very dependent on government policy and the enactment of the Draft Broadcasting Law by the DPR.

The implementation of digital technology broadcasts is  expected to improve broadcast quality and frequency spectrum efficiency, which  will support content diversity.

The advantage of broadcasting with  DAB+ technology is that the sound quality is clearer and more detailed than analog FM broadcasts. In addition, it is  capable of providing  metadata, such as, radio station information, song information, traffic information and multimedia data.

Even with this digital broadcast system, it is possible to build a network based on an Early Warning System whose broadcast services are needed by people in disaster-prone areas.

The Ministry of Communication and Information has issued a Minister of Communication and Information Regulation which states the use of the VHF Band 3 frequency as a channel for the implementation of digital broadcasts, where DAB and DRM (two systems in one band) technology systems will be implemented in this frequency.

According to Lindsay Cornell, BBC Principal Systems Architect, implementing two systems, namely the DAB+ and DRM systems in 1 band, is unusual, and Indonesia will be the only country in the world if it implements it.

The application of DAB+ digital broadcast technology continues to grow throughout the world. Almost most countries in Europe have adopted it. Also countries in Asia such as China, Japan, India and Australia have also implemented it.

The 2023 WorldDAB Summit which took place in the city of Munich and was attended by more than 160 participants from 33 countries, is an annual event of the WorldDAB forum which consists of radio stakeholders from Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond. They came to share information  about the latest developments in digital radio technology.