Latin America. Despite new technologies and transmission over IP networks, the dissemination of radio content through analog signals, such as FM, will prevail for at least a couple of decades, given its concepts of free and mass reception, said Chris Poulain, VP of Sales and Marketing at developer WorldCast.
"I think that really analog FM has 20 more years, because it is not expensive, it is free, it is easy technology and it works well and we will probably see with the new cars – which are called autonomous – the possibility of receiving IPstream with the cell phone, FM, digital radio, or other signals. The future of digital radio is doubtful; FM is going to survive for about 20 years," he said during NAB Show 2018.
And he predicted: "Then we're going to listen to the radio with 4G or 5G, probably. With digital radio too, depending on the countries. In Europe we see that implementation is slow. With the new 5G technology that comes with a lot of broadband it would be easier by IP streaming in the car."
On the company's penetration in Latin America, Poulain said: "For us AL is fine; we have more and more customers with FM broadcasters in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, we are happy. The first few months of 2018 are good for us, we are optimistic."
Text written by Vladimir Martínez, special for TVyVideo+Radio.
