India’s public broadcaster All India Radio (AIR) has decided to start FM services throughout the country in a phased manner, according to Indiantelevision.com.

The plan is to reach rural areas, where FM service is presently not available and strengthening the coverage in border areas.

Currently, AIR’s FM service is available in 373 location through the country and it has selected 212 new cities to roll out FM in the third phase of FM expansion in the country.

243 private FM radio channels are already broadcasting under Phase-II in which state capitals and cities with a population of 300,000 were up for bidding.

Under Phase III, the government has decided to e-auction 839 private FM channels in 294 cities.

It will also cover vacant channels from Phase-II and cities with a population of above 100,000 in addition to 11 cities in border areas of Jammu& Kashmir and North Eastern States with population of less than 100,000.

AIR’s parent body Prasar Bharati’s CEO Jawhar Sircar told Radioandmusic.com that he was conscious that Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) will ultimately take over, but this process may take some years and the attempt will be to reach out to the people through FM till affordable DRM sets are available.