Samsung and Qualcomm, among others, are raising objections to India’s choice of technology for enabling live TV broadcasts on smartphones, citing concerns that the required hardware modifications will increase the cost of each device by $30 or about Rs 2500, as per a report by Reuters.
India is contemplating a policy that would equate smartphones with the necessary hardware to receive live TV signals without relying on cellular networks. The proposed technology, ATSC 3.0, popular in North America, allows for precise geo-location of TV signals and offers high picture quality.
However, companies argue that their current smartphone models in India need to be equipped to function with ATSC 3.0, and any efforts to add compatibility with this technology would raise the cost of each device by $30 or roughly Rs 2500, as it necessitates adding more components. Some companies are concerned that this could disrupt their existing manufacturing plans.
In a joint letter to India’s communication ministry, Samsung, Qualcomm, and telecom equipment manufacturers Ericsson and Nokia, they expressed concerns that adding direct-to-mobile broadcasting could also negatively impact the device’s battery performance and cellular reception.
“We do not find any merit in progressing discussion on adopting this,” stated the letter dated October 17.
The four companies and India’s communication ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The proposal is still under deliberation and subject to potential changes, with no fixed timeline for implementation, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
According to industry executives, the adoption of digital broadcasts of TV channels on smartphones has been limited in countries such as South Korea and the United States, primarily due to the lack of devices that support the technology.
This policy resistance is the latest in a series of challenges from firms operating in India’s smartphone sector. In recent months, they have pushed back against India’s efforts to make phones compatible with a homegrown navigation system and another proposal to mandate security testing for handsets.
For the Indian government, introducing live TV broadcast features on smartphones is a strategy to alleviate congestion on telecom networks caused by increased video consumption.
The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), a lobbying group representing smartphone manufacturers including Apple and Xiaomi, opposed the policy privately in a letter dated October 16. They noted that no significant global handset maker currently supports ATSC 3.0.
According to research firm Counterpoint, Samsung leads India’s smartphone market with a 17.2 percent share, followed by Xiaomi with a 16.6 percent share. Apple holds a 6 per cent market share.
“The inclusion of any technology which is not proven and globally acceptable… will derail the pace of domestic manufacturing,” stated the ICEA letter.
