At WRTH, we are proud to celebrate innovations that show the true potential of radio beyond traditional broadcasting.
This month, we are shining the spotlight on Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) — a long-time pioneer in digital broadcasting — for their groundbreaking work in using Digital Radio Mondiale distance education technology to reach communities where connectivity is limited.
Below, Ruxandra Obreja from the DRM Consortium shares a powerful example of how Digital Radio Mondiale is transforming access to education worldwide:
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) Delivers Distance Education to All
By Ruxandra Obreja
Digital Radio delivers a superior radio experience. The all-frequency band, open Digital Radio Mondiale (drm.org) standard has been recently used to prove that digital terrestrial broadcasting can deliver much more than the usual traditional audio services.
Thus, a new revolutionary application of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) technology is designed to remove barriers to education for populations most in need worldwide. The technology also has applications in areas such as medicine and religious education.
Education is often not just a luxury but a deep necessity in many places of the world lacking internet connections, even electricity, water etc. In Sudan, UNICEF reported in April 2024 that 19 million school-age children do not have access to a classroom, with over 23,000 schools in the country currently closed or destroyed. And, while most people in Sudan own smartphones, very few have access to the internet, due to limited infrastructure and the high cost of mobile data.
To prove that there is a way to offer education, even internet content, without the internet, in April the DRM Consortium, in cooperation with St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School in the Gambian capital, Banjul, conducted its first public demonstration of an innovative project to deliver education at a distance via digital radio.
In a Gambian, African, and world first for digital radio, the Encompass Media Services Woofferton transmitting station in the UK broadcast (on 15390kHz and 21740kHz) a maths lesson, over 4,000 kilometres to The Gambia.
The technology uses long-distance digital radio to deliver the lesson materials, including rich graphics and interactive elements, which are then stored in the radio and served to student devices over a WiFi hotspot. A group of 15-year-old Gambian students received audio and text lessons transmitted via DRM shortwave on April 8th. The content was made available to their tablets and mobiles through a local Wi-Fi connection to the radio.
A central component of the broadcast, alongside the audio, was a digital textbook (Journaline), showcasing how the lesson content — including graphics — can be made available in several languages, both as a live accompaniment and for on-demand access.
The tablets used for this e-learning demonstration were donated to the school in Banjul.
According to the DRM Chairman, Ruxandra Obreja this event in Gambia proved “how education, training and information can reach everyone as digital radio DRM can clearly deliver education transforming and uplifting communities.
As DRM Digital Radio offers a scalable, accessible and cost-effective solution to global education challenges, let us know if you want to partner with the DRM consortium to expand educational reach all over the world.”
Celebrating Digital Radio Mondiale’s Impact on Distance Education
The work of Digital Radio Mondiale distance education projects clearly shows that radio remains a vital tool for communities around the world.
Instead of relying on expensive internet connections, DRM offers a powerful and practical solution. It allows education content to be delivered directly to students’ devices, wherever they are.
In addition, this approach proves that radio is more than a one-way broadcast. It can offer rich, interactive learning experiences—even across thousands of kilometers.
Projects like these highlight the important role that radio can continue to play—not only as a source of entertainment but also as a lifeline for education, health information, and community support.
Therefore, it is clear that digital broadcasting holds enormous potential for development around the world.
We sincerely thank DRM and the DRM Consortium for leading the way forward in bridging the education gap through digital innovation.
To learn more about their ongoing projects, visit drm.org.
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