At the 2007 World Radiocommunicaton Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva, the International Telecommunication Union approved the DRM system for use in tropical-band broadcasting.
Since 2002, the ITU has endorsed DRM for international broadcasting in the long-, medium- and shortwave frequency bands, with the exception of the tropical zone 120, 90 and 60 meter bands. These bands are the frequencies near the lower end of the shortwave spectrum reserved for domestic broadcasting purposes in countries located roughly between 30 degrees North and South latitudes.
The ITU has now sanctioned the implementation of DRM between 3,200 and 5,900 kHz, thus opening up a significant market for broadcasting in tropical areas.
“The recognition of the DRM system is now totally worldwide for all digital radio applications of various types around the world in the traditional broadcasting bands below 30 MHz — longwave, medium-wave and shortwave,” said Donald Messer, DRM representative at the WRC.
Additionally, the DRM Consortium is testing an adaptation of its system to VHF bands I and II. When complete, the system will be available for worldwide use in all terrestrial broadcasting bands up to and including the FM band (VHF band II).
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