The latest in a series of trials is currently on air in Hong Kong from Wave Media Ltd, a commercial radio broadcaster.  Seven services, including a range of music stations such as opera, classical, oldies and easy listening, are available to 50% of Hong Kong's 6.9 million population covering the main urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and Shatin.  The broadcasts include text and visual slides alongside the audio.

Stations on the multiplex are broadcast in a mix of DAB and DAB+, and the trial is due to run until November 2010.  Wave Media, which also broadcasts analogue stations, is committed to a digital radio future for Hong Kong.  Company boss, Albert Cheng, says he would like to run up to ten digital channels, but admits that depends on government approval.  He says: “Since the beginning, what we actually aimed for is digital audio broadcasting.”

Meanwhile, two other companies, Metro Broadcast Corp and Phoenix Radio have also applied for digital broadcast licences.

Due to the nature of its topography, it is difficult to broadcast FM services on the island of Hong Kong and, as a result, the diverse community that makes up the population is underserved in terms of station choice.  DAB and DAB+ are seen as the best way to increase that choice using the restricted spectrum available.

In this country there is

• National multiplex: 1 Trial

The public broadcaster, RTHK has conducted serveral trials using DAB.  The first was a three year trial using L-Band that ran from  to 1998 to 2001.  The was followed by a Band III trial between 2004 and 2006.  These trials included audio, data such as traffic, weather and financial information, and an element of visual media using DMB.

Any DAB/DMB licensing development will be party to a review process by the Hong Kong regulator. Currently the regulation in Hong Kong is divided between three different bodies: OFTA (telecommunications authority – spectrum allocation), HKBA (broadcasting authority) and TELA (entertainment content licensing authority). The merger of these various bodies, to form one broader regulatory authority, is ongoing.