We are excited to announce that HOT 102.7FM has officially joined the DRM South Africa (DRM SA) Group as a member.

As one of South Africa’s fastest-growing and most innovative commercial radio stations, HOT 102.7FM brings energy, industry insight, and a strong listener-focused approach to the DRM SA community. Their commitment to broadcast excellence and audience engagement aligns perfectly with DRM SA’s mission to advance digital radio and future-ready broadcasting across the region.

We look forward to collaborating with the HOT 102.7FM team as we continue driving the adoption of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) technology and shaping the future of radio in Southern Africa.

Welcome to the movement. Welcome to the future. 🔥

The DRM Southern Africa Group has reached a major milestone in its digital radio journey with the approval of its DRM in FM demonstration licence, issued by ICASA in November 2025. This regulatory green light establishes the foundation needed to move forward with South Africa’s first coordinated DRM in FM trial – an initiative aimed at showcasing the value of Digital Radio Mondiale as the country accelerates its shift toward digital sound broadcasting since the regulator already recommended DRM (and DAB) as its digitisation path.

The trial will focus on demonstrating DRM’s advanced capabilities, including Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF), distance learning through Journaline, multi-channel broadcasting on a single FM transmitter, and significant energy-efficiency gains. Alongside the technical demonstrations, the project will assess digital-era business processes for broadcasters, explore new revenue opportunities, and stimulate local receiver manufacturing across portable, in-car, and mobile platforms. Key stakeholders—including broadcasters, signal distributors, the automotive industry, government entities, and receiver manufacturers—will be actively involved throughout the 8-month demonstration period.

With the license secured, the DRM SA Group together with the DRM Consortium, can now proceed with completion of the transmitter installation, equipment integration for data services, awareness-building, and project coordination. As outlined in the official project brief, the objective is not only to validate the technical and economic feasibility of DRM in the FM band, but also to produce an implementation guide for community broadcasters and provide meaningful insights on how DRM can support national development goals through education, access to information, and emergency communication.

This landmark approval marks a significant step forward for digital radio in South Africa and reinforces the momentum behind DRM as a modern, flexible, and future-proof solution for the broadcasting ecosystem.

DRM Southern Africa is pleased to welcome LS of South Africa (LSofSA) as the newest member of our regional DRM community. With a strong legacy dating back to 1999, LSofSA brings deep expertise in radio-frequency engineering, spectrum management, broadcast network planning, and advanced monitoring solutions. Their longstanding contribution to Southern Africa’s communications landscape aligns closely with DRM’s mission of promoting efficient, future-proof, and inclusive digital radio technologies in the region.

As a member of the DRM SA group, LSofSA will collaborate with broadcasters, regulators, manufacturers, and industry bodies to strengthen the technical foundation for digital radio deployment across Southern Africa. Their proven capabilities in planning, designing, and supporting complex RF and broadcast networks significantly enhance the group’s collective capacity. We look forward to partnering with LSofSA as we continue building a robust ecosystem to support the adoption and growth of Digital Radio Mondiale in the region.

To explore the progress and potential of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) in South Africa and Africa the DRM SA Group organised its first DRM Southern Africa Webinar on 22 October. The event brought together broadcasters, industry experts, and technology partners to explore the progress and potential of DRM in the region. Presentations made by South African experts and colleagues in the umbrella DRM Consortium highlighted DRM’s efficiency in energy and spectrum use, its ability to broadcast multiple channels on a single frequency, and its applications in education and emergency communication. To increase audience engagement, attendees participated in live Slido polls, a way to provide live feedback and share their own perspectives. These showed that over half of the participants were already familiar with DRM, while another 25% were somewhat familiar.  Interestingly, 43% identified commercial radio and advertising as the sector most likely to benefit from DRM, followed by community radio (29%). A big vote of confidence and interest were shown for the potential of DRM in education/distance learning (29%). As to the challenges and barriers to implementation, costs and limited awareness were cited as the most important, though 56% rated DRM’s energy and spectrum efficiency as “very valuable” to broadcasters. The webinar concluded with a strong call for on-air demonstrations, business plan development, and broader public education as those involved in the event reaffirmed collective commitment to advancing digital radio adoption across Southern Africa. 

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is transforming the way radio is broadcast and consumed – delivering superior audio quality, energy efficiency, and new opportunities for broadcasters and listeners alike. The DRM Southern Africa Group is excited to share the latest progress, upcoming trials, and regional initiatives shaping the next chapter of broadcasting.

When: 22 October 2025

Time: 11h00 – 12h00 SAST

Register here s.drm.org/drm-sa-2025-zoom-registration to Join us for an exclusive webinar on the future of radio in Southern Africa.