The Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Electronic System Design and Manufacturing, Noida is proud to celebrate the launch of a prototype Bluetooth speaker enabled with HD Radio, specifically designed for the Indian market, at the Broadcast Engineering Society (BES) Expo 2024. This landmark innovation is a result of active collaboration between the CoE, Noida, Xperi, and the India Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA). It marks a significant step towards establishing India as a leader in electronics design and manufacturing.
The Indian mobile accessories market, valued at approximately USD 3 billion, primarily still relies on imported components and limited intellectual property creation. Recognising the potential of a domestic electronics design ecosystem, ICEA partnered with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India and the Government of Uttar Pradesh to establish CoE Noida in 2022.
Housed at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC) Noida, the Centre of Excellence collaborated with Xperi Inc., owner of HD Radio, to develop this cutting-edge speaker tailored to Indian consumer preferences. The HD Radio technology enables simulcasting of an existing analogue radio station in a digital format with less noise and additional text information.
“Technologies like HD Radio has benefits for the entire broadcasting ecosystem including Listeners, Advertisers, Broadcasting and Regulators. At a nascent stage in India, the HD Radio broadcast system has been tested in New Delhi. We are now eagerly awaiting government guidelines to facilitate trials and pave the way for commercialisation,” expressed Ramashish Ray, CEO of CoE Noida.
The Indian Bluetooth speaker market is experiencing explosive growth, exceeding 30% annually. Domestic brands like boAt and Noise are already global leaders, showcasing the country’s potential for design and exports.
“This prototype is a testament to the power of collaboration and India’s growing capabilities in design and innovation. By developing the intellectual property locally before standards are set, we position India to be a key player in the global value chain for the emerging HD Radio technology” said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA.
Ashruf El-Dinary, Senior Vice President, Digital Platforms at Xperi Inc. stated “Our work with CoE Noida demonstrates the potential of Indian enterprises to develop innovative technology and meet the unique demands of the local market.”
The CoE, Noida, is a unique collaboration between industry and government, working on actionable and marketable design of electronic products. It showcases how the government can support design activities and increase domestic value addition in the electronics ecosystem.
