MUMBAI: Delphi has begun producing satellite radios for the Canadian market, company officials said at the 2006 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) had approved licenses for satellite radio in June 2005, opening up a new market for this rapidly growing form of entertainment.
Three satellite services have been approved by the CRTC, and two of the services began broadcasting in December. Delphi currently manufactures hardware that supports both services that are broadcasting.
In Canada, Delphi now supplies receivers to automakers that offer satellite radio as a vehicle option, as well as through retail channels.
Satellite radio has been available for four years in the US and has grown to more than 8 million subscribers. Satellite radio, or "subscription radio" as its called in Canada, offers hundreds of channels of digital-quality, crystal-clear music and programming for a monthly fee. Delphi has produced more than 8.5 million satellite receivers since it started producing receivers in 2001.
In the last decade, Delphi claims to have pioneered or led the introduction of multi-speaker, multi-amp premium audio, CD playbacks, DVD rear seat video, MP3 playbacks, advanced TV reception systems and satellite radio into the market. Delphi supplies both OEM and retail hardware for XM Satellite Radio, and OEM hardware for Sirius Satellite. Since beginning production in 1936, Delphi has manufactured more than 270 million radio systems.