GDC Technology Surpasses 50 DTS:X for IAB Screens Across South Asia as the IAB standard Accelerates Immersive Audio Adoption

MUMBAI, India, August 18, 2026 — GDC Technology Limited (“GDC”), a leading global provider of digital cinema solutions, today announced the completion of 50 DTS:X for IAB immersive audio screens across South Asia, spanning India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The milestone underscores the accelerating adoption of DTS:X immersive audio in the region — driven in large part by the interoperability of the SMPTE ST 2098-2 Immersive Audio Bitstream (IAB) standard.

For years, the greatest barrier to immersive audio adoption was content availability. Competing proprietary formats required studios to produce separate mixes and separate Digital Cinema Packages (DCPs) for each sound system, leaving many exhibitors — particularly in high-growth, price-sensitive markets — hesitant to invest. The IAB standard has removed that barrier. A single interoperable IAB DCP can now play back across all compliant immersive sound systems worldwide, giving DTS:X for IAB theatres access to a steadily expanding slate of immersive titles, exactly as filmmakers intended.

“The economics of immersive audio have fundamentally changed,” said Pranay Kumar, CTO of GDC Technology. “With one audio mix and a common DCP serving every IAB-compliant screen, content is no longer the question exhibitors ask before investing in immersive sound. The question now is simply how soon they can offer it to their audiences. Reaching 50 DTS:X for IAB screens across India, Nepal and Sri Lanka shows what happens when a global standard meets markets with an extraordinary appetite for premium cinema experiences.”

These DTS:X for IAB screens are powered by the GDC SR-1000 Standalone Integrated Media Block (IMB) with built-in DTS:X for IAB rendering, paired with the AIB-3000 cinema audio processor. The combination delivers object-based immersive audio with precise sound system calibration and enhanced bass management, at a total cost of ownership that makes immersive sound viable for auditoriums of every size — a decisive factor in South Asia’s diverse exhibition landscape.

Leading exhibitors across the region have adopted the solution, including PVR INOX, Vettri Theatres, Jaithra Cinemas, Shenoy Cinemas, QFX Cinemas, Majestic Cineplex and iNi Cinemas. GDC Technology India, in collaboration with its partners, has been instrumental in bringing DTS:X for IAB to screens across the subcontinent by ensuring its deployment and integration services.

“The adoption of DTS:X for IAB across South Asia reflects the growing momentum of the IAB standard and our shared commitment with GDC Technology to bring immersive cinema experiences to more audiences worldwide,” said Sven Mevissen, Senior Director Content and Partnerships, DTS, Inc.

The milestone also coincides with the 10th anniversary of GDC Technology’s partnership with DTS. Earlier this year, GDC introduced the AIB-4000, its next-generation 64-channel cinema audio processor supporting DTS:X for IAB, at CinemaCon 2026.

South Asia’s cinema market — home to the world’s highest-volume film industries and some of its most passionate moviegoing audiences — represents a significant growth frontier for premium formats. With the content pipeline secured by the IAB standard and a proven, cost-effective technology platform in place, GDC expects the pace of DTS:X for IAB adoption across the region to continue to accelerate.