All India Radio Prepares for Digital Transmission with Thomson Megawatt Transmitters.

All India Radio,  has unveiled a five year program to modernize and
digitize its networks. Two new Thomson megawatt radio transmitters
will be supplied while the existing network of Thomson transmitters
will be updated to incorporate Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)
transmission.

The Ministry of Information in the Indian government has determined
that the digitization programs for the country's radio broadcasting
should be a smooth transition, with parallel broadcasting of analog
and digital services. DRM is the perfect platform for such a program.

Working with Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Limited (BECIL),
two new Thomson 1000 kW medium-wave transmitters, with both analog and
DRM exciters, will be provided. The contract includes all auxiliary
work, commission, and testing – the new transmitters will be installed
in late 2010.

"The order for the two megawatt transmitters is a very important step
for All India Radio towards developing our digitization and
modernization strategy and we've received excellent technical support
throughout the entire ordering process," said S. R. Aggarwal, Chief
Engineer, Chief of All India Radio.

"We have been supplying All India Radio with high-power transmitters
since 1985," said Nicolas Dallery, Vice President and General Manager
of the Radio/TV Transmission business unit within Grass Valley.
"Today's transmitter technology enables us to give them the
flexibility to migrate to DRM at their own pace. In association with
our partner BECIL, we can provide a dynamic support service which
gives All India Radio very good cost of ownership over the long
lifetime of their network."