FreeStream Technologies—incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur—has partnered with Lava International and HMD Global to announce the upcoming launch of Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) enabled devices in India, ahead of large-scale field trials. The announcement was made during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 and marks a major milestone in the rollout of D2M technology, which enables mobile phones to receive multimedia content—including live TV, video, audio, educational programming, and emergency alerts—directly over broadcast spectrum, without requiring Wi-Fi or mobile internet.
Devices Powered by Saankhya Labs’ SL-3000 Chipset
The initiative supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat” and aligns with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ missions. The upcoming range of D2M-compatible feature phones, smartphones, and tablets will be equipped with the SL-3000 D2M chipset developed by Saankhya Labs, a subsidiary of Tejas Networks.
Tejas Networks, in partnership with US-based Sinclair Broadcast Group, has also developed the required D2M core network and infrastructure. Live testing of this technology has been ongoing through collaborative efforts between Prasar Bharati, IIT Kanpur, and Tejas Networks.
Industry Leaders Back D2M Rollout
Sumeet Nindrajog, Director at FreeStream Technologies, expressed optimism about the initiative, stating: “We are pleased that Lava and HMD are laying the groundwork for a scalable device ecosystem. Their commitment to mass production is a strong endorsement for the future of D2M in India.”
Lava International’s Executive Director, Sanjeev Agarwal, added: “Our D2M feature phones are designed to be affordable without compromising on functionality. We’ve integrated the modem and apps smartly to maintain low costs.”
Ravi Kunwar, CEO and VP (India and APAC) at HMD Global, said: “We’re proud to be part of this transformative journey. This pioneering technology will give users direct access to rich multimedia content, no internet required.”
Parag Naik, Executive Vice President at Tejas Networks and co-founder of Saankhya Labs, emphasized: “Our award-winning SL-3000 chipset is the foundation of these new devices. With our core network platform, we’ll enable features like CDN offload, targeted ads, emergency alerts, and educational content, furthering the goal of a digitally empowered India.”
Global Support for an Indian Innovation
Chris Ripley, President and CEO of Sinclair, noted: “The integration of ATSC 3.0 broadcast standards into affordable mobile devices proves the viability of mobile-first broadcasting. Our investment in Indian-developed D2M technology reflects our belief in its global potential. As we move toward 6G, we’re also leading efforts on the next-generation standard, B2X—‘Broadcast to Everything’.”
Revolutionizing Connectivity for Millions
With its potential to reach users in areas with limited or no internet connectivity, D2M technology is poised to transform the way millions of Indians access digital content—making critical information, education, and entertainment more accessible than ever before.
