France - Regulation and Spectrum - History
05.02.2021
The Regulator (CSA) refers to a “Nodes and Arcs” phase of DAB+ rollout bringing DAB+ coverage to the 50 largest cities and to the highways connecting them. The target completion date is end of 2022. Then the so-called “Percolation Phase” will cover the lower density regions.
Four calls for applications are expected by end of 2023 to reach 50 smaller cities and their surrounding areas. From the point of view of enhancing the digital radio experience for consumers, the CSA initiated a forum with French broadcasters to discuss the DAB+ user experience.
DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website here.
29.01.2021
DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website here.
Timeline
On 19 December 2018, the French regulator CSA announced that following the launches of DAB+ in Strasbourg and Lyon, 21.3% of the population of France was now covered by DAB+, therefore triggering the French receiver law requiring all new radio receivers to be equipped with DAB+ capabilities.
In November 2020, the parliament voted the law enabling the government to take a decree to transpose the EECC into French legislation. That decree, expected by early 2021, will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial capabilities from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed but may also be included in the decree.
- Call for application for 2 multiplexes covering main roads : https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature/Appel-a-candidatures-du-25-juillet-2018-pour-l-edition-de-services-de-radio-sur-deux-allotissements-DAB-metropolitains
- Call for application for 15 regional multiplexes : https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature/Appel-a-candidatures-du-18-juillet-2018-pour-l-edition-de-services-en-DAB-dans-15-zones
- Additional calls for applications were also launched for the regions covering French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and Rennes in 2018, and most recently Caen in January 2019.
- Additional information on all call for applications in France can be found here: https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature
22.01.2021
DAB+ was added to the French standards in August 2013
- Band III
- Commercial services for 6 cities (Paris, Nice, Marseille, Lille, Lyon, Strasbourg) in Band III
- Further cities tenders will use the learning of Paris, Nice, Lille and Marseille broadcast
- No analogue switch-off date has been determined as of yet
Analogue and digital licences are both issued free of charge. There is a quota for French music and new artists and the current analogue rules which govern advertising and sponsorship will also apply to digital radio.
- Call for application for 2 multiplexes covering main roads : https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature/Appel-a-candidatures-du-25-juillet-2018-pour-l-edition-de-services-de-radio-sur-deux-allotissements-DAB-metropolitains
- Call for application for 15 regional multiplexes : https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature/Appel-a-candidatures-du-18-juillet-2018-pour-l-edition-de-services-en-DAB-dans-15-zones
- Additional calls for applications were also launched for the regions covering French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and Rennes in 2018, and most recently Caen in January 2019.
- Additional information on all call for applications in France can be found here: https://www.csa.fr/Arbitrer/Gestion-des-frequences/Les-appels-a-candidature
On 19 December 2018, the French regulator CSA announced that following the launches of DAB+ in Strasbourg and Lyon, 21.3% of the population of France was now covered by DAB+, therefore triggering the French receiver law requiring all new radio receivers to be equipped with DAB+ capabilities.
In November 2020, the parliament voted the law enabling the government to take a decree to transpose the EECC into French legislation. That decree, expected by early 2021, will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial capabilities from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed but may also be included in the decree.