RFmondial supports DRM in South Africa

The DRM South Africa Group has released its first quarterly report on the DRM-in-FM trial conducted under a test licence granted by ICASA to BluLemon Ltd in November 2025.

The trial officially launched on 13 February 2026 (UNESCO World Radio Day) in Johannesburg on 91.25 MHz. Three radio services—Radio Pulpit, HOT1027, and an education channel—were broadcast simultaneously on a single FM frequency. The launch also featured the world’s first demonstration of e-learning via DRM digital radio in the FM band.

From February to April 2026, the trial operated successfully, attracting national and international interest, including visits from Mozambican broadcasting and regulatory officials. The project received media coverage through interviews and press reports.

The trial has successfully demonstrated DRM’s capabilities in a real-world South African FM environment. Upcoming phases include multi-channel testing, coverage verification, and demonstrations of Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF).

The DRM-in-FM trial was supported by RFmondial which provided the DRM Modulator LV and DRM Monitoring and Measurement Receiver RF-SE used throughout the project. Additional support for the trial infrastructure was given by Fraunhofer IIS, Starwaves, and the DRM Consortium Project Office.