"D2M Pilot Project to Expand; No Smartphone Mandate Imposed Yet"

The pilot project for testing Direct to Mobile (D2M) technology will be extended beyond the initial 19 cities, according to a recent inter-ministerial consultation. Officials confirmed the expansion plan, which aims to include Tier-II and -III cities, reflecting the anticipated demand for D2M technology in a nationwide rollout.

“There is broad agreement among ministries that D2M technology will offer significant benefits for India,” said a Department of Telecommunications (DoT) official who requested anonymity. “The current pilot, managed by Prasar Bharati, will now extend to additional cities where we expect substantial demand to emerge if D2M is implemented on a larger scale.”

While the pilot project is set to grow, there is no mandate for smartphones at this stage, allowing for further assessment of the technology's impact and feasibility in different urban and rural settings.

BS