Key Points
- TEC and BECIL sign MoU to develop India-specific broadcasting and telecom standards
- Collaboration covers Direct-to-Mobile technology, 5G Broadcast and digital rights management
- Partnership aims to strengthen India's voice in global bodies ITU-T, ITU-R and 3GPP
The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a memorandum of understanding with Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL) to jointly develop India-specific standards for broadcasting and telecom convergence technologies, including Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) and 5G Broadcast.
The partnership, signed on Wednesday (8 July) in New Delhi, establishes a formal framework for the two government bodies to collaborate on technical research, test frameworks and contributions to global standardisation organisations.
The initiative is significant for Indian consumers as D2M technology — which allows mobile devices to receive broadcast signals directly without using mobile data — could reduce streaming costs and ease congestion on telecom networks.
The MoU was signed by Devendra Singh, deputy director general, TEC, and Ramit Lala, deputy general manager (projects), BECIL, in the presence of Syed Tausif Abbas, senior deputy director general and head of TEC.
Key Areas of Technical Collaboration
The agreement covers six major areas of joint study and technical contribution. The first is Direct-to-Mobile and 5G Broadcast technology — a system that enables smartphones to receive television and radio broadcasts over airwaves rather than through internet data, potentially transforming how Indians consume live content.
The second area is Digital Rights Management (DRM), the technology that controls how copyrighted content is distributed and accessed. TEC and BECIL will study DRM systems for internet protocol television (IPTV) and other distribution platforms — a critical issue as streaming services expand in India.
The partnership will also examine Digital Sound Broadcasting (DSB), which offers higher-quality audio transmission than traditional analogue radio. Additionally, the two bodies will study Conditional Access Systems (CAS) and Subscriber Management Systems (SMS) used by cable and DTH operators to control which channels subscribers can view.
The fifth area covers future broadcast and network technologies, including Further evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (FeMBMS) — an advanced version of multicast technology that allows efficient delivery of the same content to multiple users simultaneously. This technology is particularly relevant for live sports and news broadcasts where millions of viewers watch identical streams.
The MoU also provides for need-based technical discussions on matters referred by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), DoT and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
Strengthening India’s Global Standards Participation
A key objective of the collaboration is to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation activities. The two bodies plan to make joint technical contributions to the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), as well as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) — the global body that develops mobile network standards.
India has historically had limited influence in global telecom standards-setting, with specifications largely driven by equipment manufacturers in Europe, the United States and China. The government has been pushing to change this, particularly as 5G and 6G technologies are developed.
TEC is responsible for formulating technical standards and specifications for telecommunications in India, issuing standards for generic requirements, interface requirements and service requirements to ensure interoperability and quality compliance. It represents India in international forums including ITU and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT).
BECIL, a Mini Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under MIB established in 1995, provides consultancy and turnkey solutions across broadcasting, information technology, electronic surveillance and smart city projects. The company has expanded from traditional broadcast engineering to deliver solutions covering project management, operation and maintenance, and research and development.
The collaboration comes as the government pushes for greater indigenisation in telecom technology under the ‘trusted sources’ procurement rules introduced in 2021, which require telecom operators to buy equipment only from approved vendors.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the TEC-BECIL MoU about?
The memorandum of understanding establishes a framework for TEC and BECIL to jointly develop India-specific standards for broadcasting and telecom convergence technologies, including Direct-to-Mobile (D2M), 5G Broadcast and digital rights management systems.
What is Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology?
D2M is a technology that allows mobile devices to receive broadcast signals directly over airwaves without using mobile data. This could reduce streaming costs for consumers and ease congestion on telecom networks.
Which global bodies will TEC and BECIL contribute to?
The partnership aims to strengthen India's contributions to ITU-T (Telecommunication Standardization Sector), ITU-R (Radiocommunication Sector) and 3GPP — the global body that develops mobile network standards.
What other technologies does the MoU cover?
Beyond D2M and 5G Broadcast, the agreement covers Digital Rights Management for IPTV, Digital Sound Broadcasting, Conditional Access Systems and advanced multicast technologies like FeMBMS.
