Lava Announces Feature Phones with D2M Tech for Live TV Without Internet

Highlights

• Lava is launching Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology phones, which will enable live TV, OTT streaming and text messaging without internet.
• The phone will be developed in-house under the Make in India initiative with Tejas Network and Saankhya Labs.
• Phones will reportedly feature a MediaTek MT6261 chipset and a UHF antenna for broadcasts.
• More details are expected during the upcoming WAVES 2025 event from May 1–4 in Mumbai.

Caption – Lava will introduce Direct-to-Mobile feature phones at WAVES 2025. (Image credit – Lava)

Lava International is set to launch new feature phones powered by Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology at the upcoming WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit) 2025. These phones will let users watch live TV, OTT content, listen to audio, and receive text messages without needing internet or Wi-Fi, by using terrestrial TV broadcast signals. Here’s what we know about the devices so far.

Lava’s D2M Feature Phones

The new Lava feature phones are part of the government’s Make in India initiative and have been developed in-house by Lava’s R&D team along with engineers from Tejas Network.

While Lava hasn’t shared full specs yet, it has confirmed that the phones will run on the MediaTek MT6261 chipset and include the SL3000 software-defined receiver chip by Saankhya Labs.

The phones will come with a 2.8-inch QVGA display, support GSM connectivity for calls, and include a UHF (ultra high frequency) antenna to receive live TV broadcasts. They will also feature a 2,200mAh battery for long-lasting use.

Lava says the software on these phones integrates Saankhya Labs’ SDK (software development kit) to help deliver entertainment and information to underserved communities.

Pricing and availability details haven’t been announced yet.

Lava will reveal more during WAVES 2025, which runs from May 1 to May 4 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. The event will also showcase advancements in AI, VR, AR, XR, and the Metaverse.

While we wait for further announcements from Lava, it is interesting to note that HMD too has confirmed plans to bring D2M-enabled phones to India soon.

FAQs

Q1. What technology powers Lava’s new feature phones?

Answer. Lava’s feature phones use Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) technology, allowing live TV, OTT streaming, and text messaging without internet or Wi-Fi via terrestrial signals.

Q2. Who helped develop Lava’s D2M feature phones?

Answer. These phones were developed as part of the Make in India initiative, with Lava’s R&D team collaborating with Tejas Network and Saankhya Labs.

Q3. When and where will Lava reveal more details about the phones?

Answer. Lava will showcase these D2M-enabled feature phones at WAVES 2025 (May 1–4) at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, alongside AI and XR advancements.

Also Read: Lava BOLD 5G launching on April 8: Features 120Hz AMOLED Display, 64MP Camera, and More