MED-EL, a global hearing implant solutions company, has launched its latest cochlear implant audio processor, SONNET 3, in India at CIGICON 2026, the annual conference of the Cochlear Implant Group of India (CIGI), held in Agra.

The India launch marks MED-EL’s latest move to expand access to advanced hearing technology and strengthen its presence in the country’s cochlear implant and hearing-care ecosystem.

SONNET 3 is the company’s smallest and lightest behind-the-ear audio processor to date. The device features integrated direct streaming, allowing users to stream phone calls and music directly from compatible Android and Apple smartphones without requiring additional accessories.

The processor incorporates dual microphones and MED-EL’s Automatic Sound Management (ASM 3.0) technology, which automatically adapts to different listening environments and helps reduce background noise to support clearer conversations.

SONNET 3 is also waterproof to the IP68 standard and features a compact, tamper-resistant design with dedicated wearing and fixation options. These features are designed to make the processor suitable for both adults and children. The device has also received the Red Dot Design Award 2025.

Prem Ranjan, Director, MED-EL India, said the introduction of SONNET 3 represents an important step towards making advanced hearing technology more accessible to people who depend on cochlear implants in their everyday lives.

“Technology alone cannot transform outcomes. For children and adults with severe to profound hearing loss, the journey begins with early identification and the right clinical intervention and continues through rehabilitation and long-term support,” Ranjan said.

He added that MED-EL would continue working with clinicians, implant centres and the wider hearing-care community to strengthen the patient journey and ensure that technological innovation translates into long-term benefits for patients and their families.

SONNET 3 is already available in the European Union, the United States and several other markets. Its launch in India follows the completion of the applicable regulatory requirements, expanding access for Indian cochlear implant users to MED-EL’s latest audio-processing technology.

The launch coincided with CIGICON 2026, which brought together ENT surgeons, audiologists, habilitationists and other hearing-care professionals from India and neighbouring countries to discuss developments in cochlear implantation and approaches to improving patient outcomes.