KhushTech Unveils India’s First D2M Feature Phone with Tejas Networks Chip

KhushTech Korea has unveiled the world’s first Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) feature phone, branded under Free Stream Technologies (FreeStream), a D2M platform developed at IIT Kanpur. This budget-friendly device incorporates the Tejas Networks SL-3000 D2M demodulator chip and is designed to function within the 470-608 MHz broadcast spectrum. 

The phone aims to serve areas lacking consistent internet access by leveraging the robust ATSC 3.0 broadcasting standard to deliver multimedia content directly to users' devices without the need for Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Strategic Demonstration and Technology Capabilities

During a high-level meeting with Shri Nara Lokesh, the Hon’ble IT and Electronics Minister of Andhra Pradesh, KhushTech’s CEO Eric Shin presented the phone’s capabilities, showcasing how it can revolutionise educational outreach in underserved areas. 

The ATSC 3.0-based device enables live TV, video, audio, text, and data transmissions of both public and national importance without internet dependency. The supporting technology has undergone live trials over the last few years, thanks to a joint effort by Prasar Bharati, IIT Kanpur, and Tejas Networks.

Parag Naik of Tejas Networks explained, “Our team has worked hard with KhushTech and made clever optimisations to the demodulator, the operating system and middleware to work within the resource constraints of a feature phone environment. Our end-to-end productisation of D2M allows us to rapidly tweak, test and validate performance.”

Global Collaboration and Vision for Digital Bharat

KhushTech’s Eric Shin stated, “We are very delighted to have successfully developed the world’s first D2M Feature Phone. Our low-cost device will be India’s first BIS-certified D2M Feature Phone and is ready for commercialisation. We would like to thank our strategic partners, Tejas Networks, FreeStream, and Sinclair, for their full support in development over the past year and a half. We are keen to set up a world-class manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh to support the  Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative and will continue to invest in the development of various D2M embedded products.”

Chris Ripley, CEO of Sinclair, added, “We applaud KhushTech’s commitment to manufacturing affordable devices that enable large-scale adoption of ‘mobile first’ ATSC 3.0. We are leading the work towards the next release of the standard – ‘Broadcast to Everything’ (B2X), which will unleash next-generation broadcast/multicast apps for numerous verticals of Digital Bharat.”

Read More: Funding Surge in India’s Tech Startups: ₹21,395 Crore Raised in Q1 FY25!

Tejas Networks Share Price Performance

As of 12:08 PM on August 8, 2025, Tejas Networks share price is trading at ₹565.80, a 0.80% decrease.

Conclusion 

KhushTech’s D2M feature phone marks a major step toward inclusive digital access, especially in rural and low-connectivity regions. By integrating advanced broadcast technology with affordable hardware, the collaboration with Tejas Networks, FreeStream, and Sinclair supports India's "Make in India" mission while paving the way for widespread adoption of D2M services. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions. 

Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.