Private FM licenses are set to proliferate across India. To prepare for the broadcasting boom in this nation, GatesAir has secured a new Regional Sales Manager who will represent the company across South Asia.
The Thomson Broadcast subsidiary is welcoming Tamjeed Ahmad for the role, reporting to Head of APAC Sales Jacky Yee. He will represent GatesAir across India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, with a focus on developing new business opportunities for FM radio and digital television as well.
Ahmad’s resume includes stints at AJA Video Systems and Imagine Communications.
The Government of India recently announced an e-Auction of private FM channels. The initiative will bring up to 730 FM channels to 234 uncovered “Tier II/III cities,” including many with rural populations that will receive private FM broadcast services for the first time. Most of the transmission points for new FM signals will require new or updated RF infrastructure that will at minimum require new FM transmitters.
GatesAir has also been a participant in early ATSC 3.0 trials in New Delhi as the Government of India considers a transition from the DVB-T2 digital TV standard. The transition to ATSC 3.0 would fulfill a “Broadcast-to-Everything” model aimed at reducing wireless network congestion.
— Brian Galante, in Boston
