HMD to Launch Direct-to-Mobile Phones in India Before Field Trials

HMD, in partnership with Free Stream Technologies (developed at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur) and additional D2M collaborators, reveals plans to launch Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) phones to satisfy high consumer demand prior to extensive field tests in India. The declaration will take place at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 hosted at Jio World Centre, Mumbai.

Direct-to-Mobile is an innovative Next-Generation Broadcasting solution that transmits OTT & live TV, video, audio, and text messages straight to mobile devices without needing Wi-Fi or internet connection. This is in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Viksit Bharat (India’s economic transformation) and endorses the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ initiatives.

Supporting the 'Make in India' and 'Design in India' initiatives, Tejas Networks powers low-cost feature phones, smartphones, and tablets. This technology has been thoroughly tested in operational networks by Prasar Bharati in partnership with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks over multiple years.

The use of D2M technology will allow Indian consumers to receive entertainment, sports, educational content, and emergency notifications straight on their mobile devices via terrestrial TV broadcast signals. This technology has been in development and testing in India for many years, with HMD now establishing itself as one of the initial device makers prepared to launch this capability commercially.