Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
It is rapidly developing, using the latest technologies, and at the same time remains the main means of communication in places where technological progress has not kept pace with global trends.
Every year, February 13th marks World Radio Day. On this day, 80 years ago, UN Radio made its first broadcast.
UN News teams have collected stories from all corners of the world, and they confirm one simple truth: in regions devastated by conflict and natural disasters, radio remains a reliable source of information where other signals fail.
From UN Radio to the News Service
Eighty years ago, as the world was recovering from World War II, UN Radio began broadcasting – in five languages – from small studios at UN headquarters in New York, often broadcasting entire Security Council meetings.
One of the first broadcasts of UN Radio.
For decades, iconic voices such as Edward R. Murrow, Marlon Brando, Audrey Hepburn, and Frank Sinatra helped communicate the work of the global organization to the world. World leaders such as John F. Kennedy, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, and Pope John Paul II were broadcast.
Over time, UN Radio was replaced by the UN News Service, a multimedia platform publishing content in 10 languages and reaching audiences in over 170 countries. The website features news, articles, interviews, and live broadcasts of meetings on the most pressing issues of our time.
Despite all the transformations, the service's mission remains unchanged: to provide reliable information to those who need it most, including in audio formats.
Restoring radio broadcasting in Gaza
Nowhere is this mission more crucial than in conflict zones. In the Gaza Strip, a total of 23 local radio stations operated until October 7, 2023. During the war triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel, all of them were destroyed.
United Nations News Service
Rami al-Sharafi, director of radio station Zaman FM, is trying to restore broadcasts in Gaza.
Rami al-Sharafi, director of Zaman FM, is trying to restore broadcasts. When journalists from the UN Arabic News Service visited the station, he stated bluntly: "Zaman FM has resumed broadcasting, and we are currently the only radio station transmitting an FM signal from the Gaza Strip."
The need for reliable radio broadcasting is extremely high, especially against the backdrop of the spread of diseases and disruptions to public services.
The most important tool of peacekeeping
In other conflict zones, radio also serves as a stabilizing factor. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Radio Okapi has become a vital source of information since its establishment in 2002 as part of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country.
The station broadcasts in French and four local languages, providing reliable information in regions of the country affected by violence.
In the eastern city of Bukavu, one listener said Radio Okapi "plays a key role in promoting peace by broadcasting information that is reliable and impartial."
UNICEF-DRC/Dikko
Radio Okapi and Radio Nationale Congolaise have been broadcasting radio lessons on key subjects for primary and secondary schools in the DRC during the coronavirus pandemic.
For many communities, the station is also a vital channel for civic activism. "It allows war victims to speak out about their suffering, and their stories reach the authorities," said another Bukavu resident.
Radio Okapi staff actively combat hate speech. In Lubumbashi, one listener noted that Radio Okapi helps curb hateful messages and expressed support for programs like the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, which he said promotes social cohesion.
Life-saving information
For refugees like Bahati Yohane, who currently lives in the Kyangwali refugee camp in Uganda, Radio Okapi became a lifeline during the heightened violence in the DRC. In an interview with the UN News Service in Swahili, he said, "Honestly, if it weren't for the radio, which kept us informed about the security situation, we wouldn't be alive today."
In the Central African Republic, radio helps people overcome isolation in remote and insecure areas. The UN mission in the country supports both its own radio station, Guira FM, and local radio broadcasters.
UN/MINUSCA
Celebrating the 4th anniversary of Guira FM radio in the Central African Republic.
As part of a recent campaign, more than 500 radios were provided to local residents, enabling them to receive reliable information, including information on safe travel and trade routes.
UNESCO is also a vital partner for radio stations in fragile regions, helping them stay on the air during crises and continue to transmit vital information.
In Afghanistan, the organization supports 10 radio stations that broadcast recommendations for accessing basic services. Of the tens of millions of listeners, 40 percent are women and girls.
Radio amateurs as national heroes
Outside of conflict zones, the power of radio is particularly evident during emergencies caused by climate change. When hurricanes or floods knock out telephone and internet service, radio signals often remain the last reliable channel of communication with the outside world.
In Mexico, amateur radio operators were recognized as national heroes after the 1985 earthquake, when they were able to establish communications with the affected areas. Today, the Mexican Federation of Amateur Radio Operators coordinates the National Emergency Communications Network and transmits vital information during hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
Photo from personal archive
Jesus Miguel Sarmiento Montesinos, President of the Mexican Federation of Radio Amateurs.
The UN Spanish-language news service interviewed the federation's president, Jesús Miguel Sarmiento Montesinos. "They converted copper wires into antennas, used their equipment and batteries, and immediately began transmitting messages—about the situation in the affected areas, the extent of the flooding, and whether those areas were accessible or inaccessible," he said of his colleagues' work during Hurricane Otis in 2023.
Radio makes society more inclusive
Radio breaks down many barriers and creates a more inclusive environment. In India, Radio Udaan, the country's first online radio station run entirely by visually impaired staff, was launched in 2014. Today, it has 125,000 listeners in 120 countries.
Radio Udaan covers topics such as disability rights, education, technology, and social inclusion.
© Radio Udaan
Radio Udaan is India's first online radio station staffed exclusively by visually impaired people.
UN News Hindi reporters spoke with the station's founder, Danish Mahajan. He explained that his own life experience as a visually impaired person helps him tailor programming to the needs of his audience.
"UN discussions on disability issues or special events that feature inspiring speakers bring tremendous benefits to our community," Mahajan said.
Empathy that algorithms can't reproduce
Artificial intelligence is changing the global audio landscape. In China, these changes are happening particularly rapidly: the podcast audience already exceeds 150 million and is set to grow.
The Chinese Language News Service spoke with Professor Sun Shaojing of Fudan University. He noted that AI-generated audio content is becoming increasingly woven into everyday life.
UN Photo/E. Okic
A "synthetic" AI voice will never replace the human voice, says Fudan University professor Sun Shaojing.
According to him, "synthetic" voices are becoming increasingly common, enabling precision, efficiency, and multilingualism on a scale that would have seemed unimaginable until recently. However, the professor notes, the imperfections of human speech—pauses, hesitations, emotional nuances, slips of the tongue—give the voice its "soul."
"When it comes to covering disaster scenes, the stories of people affected, their suffering and needs, AI lacks the emotional and empathic dimension… It cannot achieve the same depth of emotional impact," says Sun Shaojing.
Growing demand for radio communications in space
Even beyond Earth, radio remains the foundation of communications and scientific research. Since the launch of the first satellite in 1957, radio waves have helped humanity explore space and observe Earth.
As space programs develop, their importance only increases. Alexandre Valle, head of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Space Services Division, told the Portuguese-language News Service that satellites equipped with highly sensitive sensors are effectively monitoring the effects of climate change using ITU-protected radio frequencies.
Photo by NASA
Radio waves help humanity explore space and observe the Earth.
He explained that the expansion of lunar programs by leading spacefaring nations—including plans by the United States and China to establish permanent bases on the Moon—will likely lead to a sharp increase in radio communications needs. At the same time, he warned, this growth could threaten the Moon's "shielded zone," protected by a 1970s ITU treaty to maintain the "radio silence" necessary for studying the earliest stages of the universe's history.
"At the next Radio Regulations Conference, at the end of 2027, we will discuss for the first time the creation of a regulatory framework for managing the radio frequency spectrum on the Moon. This will mean finding a balance between the need for communication channels and the need to protect the radio frequency spectrum for scientific purposes," Vallee said.
In the long term, the "space" economy will only increase humanity's need for radio communications. According to Vallee, new industries such as space tourism, space manufacturing, space resource extraction, and even the creation of data centers beyond Earth will rely on reliable radio channels.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
