With this innovation, digital radio expands far beyond sound, turning into a powerful multimedia platform. The breakthrough is based on DRM’s Diveemo application technology, now leverages the Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard for unprecedented compression efficiency, seamlessly integrated into the DRM system. The result: DRM video broadcast services will be able to reach DRM receivers worldwide, even in the most bandwidth-constrained environments. Based on this technology showcase, the DRM Consortium will start the work on a new generation of the Diveemo specification.

“This is a true paradigm shift,” said Johannes von Weyssenhoff, Managing Director of STARWAVES. “By combining the most efficient video and audio coding with DRM’s global reach, we open up completely new applications – from e-learning in rural areas to public information services and infotainment – all available to people who may have no access to the Internet.”

The demonstration at IBC showcases:

• Educational content packages distributed to schools without Internet
• News and public information clips reliably reaching communities
• Infotainment and cultural media accessible everywhere

The project is powered by a strong innovation partnership:

• STARWAVES – leading the DRM video integration in its DRM receiver platform
• Fraunhofer IIS – providing the cutting-edge codecs, DRM ContentServer integration, and Journaline framework of the demo
• Adam Kiss / SZOMEL Kft – technical implementation of the demo

This world-first technology showcase proves that DRM is not only the most spectrum- and energy-efficient radio technology, but also the gateway to true multimedia broadcasting. It offers governments, broadcasters, and service providers a cost-effective and robust platform to bring video to everyone, everywhere – whether in dense cities, rural U.S. communities, or remote regions of Africa and Asia.

An impressive web-based copy of the demo showing the low bitrates of the content is visible here: https://vvcdemo.starwaves.com.

Just like the existing DRM-only version, this app version supports DRM in all broadcast bands including the AM bands (LW, MW, SW) as well as the VHF Bands I, II (FM-Band) and III – depending on the capabilities of the USB-attached tuner dongle.

The app is now available on the Google Play Store for around 13 €.

Explore the new STARWAVES DRM & DAB+ SoftRadio Android App – live at the Starwaves booth at IBC 2025, Hall 8, Booth 8.B30h.

In addition, STARWAVES will be hosting one of the two official DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) events at IBC. The session will take place on opening day, Friday, 12 September at 16:00, at the German Pavilion in Hall 8, Booth B.30h. Attendees will have the chance to explore the latest developments in DRM technology and its applications for broadcasters, manufacturers, and listeners worldwide.

As the world’s leading trade show for media, entertainment, and technology, IBC brings together innovators and decision-makers from across the globe. For STARWAVES, it marks an important milestone to showcase its vision and contributions to the future of broadcasting.

We look forward to welcoming you at our booth and sharing what’s next for STARWAVES. Stay tuned – the countdown has begun.

We strongly recommend all users to purchase the app exclusively via the Google Play Store from now on.

We will continue to provide updates for existing Amazon installations as long as technically possible, but please note that we will no longer be able to guarantee long-term support or functionality for versions obtained via the Amazon Appstore.

If the update mechanism through Amazon becomes non-functional, affected users who wish to continue receiving updates are kindly requested to re-purchase the app on the Google Play Store.

Thank you for your understanding – this decision was beyond our control.

STARWAVES proudly returned from two major international events—WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, India, and eLearning Africa in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania—where we showcased the power and potential of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) for transforming education in underserved and offline regions.

At both events, STARWAVES presented its innovative DRM-based e-learning platform, which enables the delivery of high-quality educational content—textbooks, audio, images, and even video—over digital shortwave radio, without the need for internet or mobile networks. The highlight of our presentations was the live demonstration of our pilot project in Gambia, which left audiences stunned by its simplicity, scalability, and immediate impact.

In Gambia, STARWAVES has successfully broadcast curriculum-aligned educational content to remote learners using DRM technology, powered by our unique receiver devices with built-in Wi-Fi hotspots. These receivers not only provide crystal-clear radio content but also distribute multimedia lessons wirelessly to nearby tablets and smartphones, creating offline learning environments anywhere, anytime.

The response in both Mumbai and Dar es Salaam was overwhelming. Delegates from government, education ministries, broadcasters, NGOs, and international development agencies expressed strong interest in replicating the Gambia model in their own countries. As budgets tighten and digital inequality widens, our solution offers a resilient, cost-effective, and scalable pathway for inclusive education—especially in rural, remote, or disaster-affected areas.

Johannes von Weyssenhoff, CEO of STARWAVES, noted:
“We are proud to be leading a global shift in how we think about digital education. What we demonstrated is not a concept—it is working today, in the real world. And it is ready to scale.”

With growing momentum across Africa and Asia, STARWAVES reaffirms its commitment to bridging the digital divide through smart, sustainable broadcasting solutions. For more information about our projects or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact: info@starwaves.com.

Further articles and links:

DRM brings innovative distance learning to the Gambia

Digital Radio Mondiale DRM Delivers Distance Education – An Excellent First for Africa and the World

Digital Radio: DRM Brings Distance Learning To Life In The Gambia

World-First in Digital Education as Encompass Connects UK to Classrooms in The Gambia via Shortwave Radio

More than 100 million children in Africa are out of school. We’re changing that.

With digital radio, we bring lessons directly to students—free, without the internet, no matter where they are.

Now, we’re taking the next step:
A visionary advisory board – guiding our strategy
Investors & partners – scaling innovation for real impact
Project launch – transforming education at scale

Want to be part of this movement? Let’s talk!
sri@starwaves.com

Dear Users,

Today we relaase a new software update V,539991 for your W-2401. Please note that the DRM decoding functionality may not work after 31 December 2024 without installation of this release.

Please download from https://www.starwaves.com/updates/539991/Update539991.rar, unrar both files to the root folder of a USB memory stick (NOT external hard disk!) and install. For this you switch the radio on and wait until it is in normal operation. Then you plugin your memory stick and wait until the radio turns off. then unplug USB stick and then switch on the radio. Press the INFO button and verify the new release version (should show 539991).

Happy New Year 2025!

Long Awaited and Finally Released – RTL-SDR V4 Support!

Today the new Release 1.5.1 of STARWAVES DRM SoftRadio App has been released. The following improvements can be expected:

– Added audio output device selector in settings (cog wheel icon) / audio tab,
starting with Android 12:
default, Earpiece, Speaker, Headphones, Bluetooth, HDMI, USB
– Added support for “RTL-SDR Blog V4” Receiver Dongle (all bands)
– Added support for “HackRF” Receiver Dongle (all bands)
– Improved robustness after signal loss or reconfiguration
– Improved sync status display in tuning dialog
– Unknown image formats no longer opened in external web browser window
– Updated decoder modules

DRM Consortium representatives are participating in the eLearning Africa in Kigali, Rwanda