D2M Phones Launch in India by HMD and Lava

HMD and Lava are ready to introduce Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) phones in India in partnership with FreeStream Technologies, Tejas Networks, and other key players in the ecosystem. This announcement comes just in time for the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, which kicks off on 1 May at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai.

These initiatives by both companies are part of India’s larger ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ campaigns, supporting PM Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat,” as stated in the official announcement.

Understanding D2M

D2M refers to an innovative broadcast technology that enables users to receive live television, video, audio, and text messages directly on their mobile devices without the need for Wi-Fi or mobile internet. Leveraging terrestrial TV signals, D2M facilitates access to OTT content, educational resources, and emergency notifications, even in regions with limited internet availability.

This technology has undergone testing in live networks by Prasar Bharati in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks, with large-scale field trials anticipated to begin across India shortly.

Transformative Potential of D2M

“D2M is a technology that can revolutionise how content and data are consumed by end users. The dedication from companies like HMD in laying the groundwork for a durable device ecosystem plays a crucial role in our national deployment strategy. Their capability to provide devices at scale reflects strong confidence in the future success of D2M,” remarked Sumeet Nindrajog, director of FreeStream Technologies.

Upcoming D2M Phones in India

HMD is set to launch a variety of D2M-equipped devices during WAVES 2025. Meanwhile, Lava plans to reveal a feature phone powered by a MediaTek MT6261 SoC, integrated with Saankhya Labs’ SL3000 D2M chipset.

Sinclair Inc., a US telecommunications company, disclosed that these phones will implement ATSC 3.0, an advanced digital terrestrial television standard, and mentioned its work on “Broadcast to Everything” (B2X) technology, keeping future 6G requirements in mind.