ARLA/CLUSTER: DRM approved by the ITU for 'tropical band' shortwave broadcasting.

[João Gonçalves Costa]

Geneva, Switzerland - The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations organization for coordination of the use of the radio spectrum. Every 4 years it conducts a thorough review and modification of the regulations for the use of the radio spectrum, including broadcasting use.

Since 2002 Digital Radio Mondiale's (Drm) system has been endorsed by the ITU for broadcasting over the world in the long-wave, medium-wave and short-wave frequencies, with
the exception of the "tropical zone" bands. The tropical zone bands are the frequencies near the lower end of the shortwave spectrum that are reserved for domestic (national) broadcasting.

It includes countries located roughly in latitudes between 30 degrees North and South like Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, Congo, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and many others countries are concerned.

At the last World Radiocommunicaton Conference (WRC) of the ITU in Geneva, the conference officially approved Drm system in the broadcasting bands between 3200 and 5900 kHz for domestic coverage in the "tropical zone" countries. This major regulatory achievement opens up a huge market for the benefit of the citizens from this part of the world.

The Drm Consortium is very pleased with this outcome that " the recognition of the Drm system is now totally worldwide for all digital radio applications of various types around the world in the traditional broadcasting bands below 30 MHz - long-wave, medium-wave and short-wave" said Dr. H.
Donald Messer, DRM representative at WRC.

Moreover, the Drm Consortium has developed an adaptation of its system to the VHF bands I and II (the "old TV" and "FM" bands, respectively). It is currently being field tested and is in the final part of the standardization process.

When completed in the near future, the Drm system will be available for worldwide use in all the terrestrial broadcasting bands up to and including the "FM" band.

Coverage can range from less than 100 square kilometers using very low power levels, to well over 1,000,000 square kilometers using powers approaching 100 kW.

(info: Southgate Amateur Radio Club)