HMD and Lava will both introduce smartphones that will receive broadcast TV without the need for internet or Wi-Fi. The devices will be showcased during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, which will take place between May 1 and 4 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.
The technology is called Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) and allows the phone to receive a signal and stream multimedia content without needing a cellular or wireless connection. We know the Lava phone will come equipped with an ultra-high-frequency (UHF) antenna that receives terrestrial TV broadcasts.
The Lava and HMD phones are both feature phones that will have a dedicated SL3000 chip by Saankhya Labs. Lava confirmed that their phone was developed in collaboration with Tejas Networks and will be powered by a MediaTek MT6261 chip. It will also have a 2,200 mAh battery and a 2.8” screen, which raises the question of who needs to watch TV on such a small display.