Country Information for DAB, DAB+ and DMB - Ireland
| Current situation | Coverage | Services on Air | Regulation | Links |
Latest News from Ireland
Consumer Electronics on the Rise in Ireland (15-02-2010)
DAB is steadily increasing its share; with 14% of audio home systems sold in 2009 including this feature, an increase of 3.3% on 2008. Total DAB has seen ...Read more...
Country Update from Ireland
10-06-2009
A DAB trial began in Ireland in March 2007 with 11 stations, six existing national stations and five Dublin stations. This trial covered Greater Dublin and the North East area with coverage of approximately 36% of Ireland’s population. Recently a DAB trial was rolled out to Limerick and Cork, increasing the DAB coverage to almost of half of the Irish population. This development was led by RTÉ in co-operation with digitalRadio.ie a new industry group set up to explore the development and promotion of digital radio in Ireland. There are now 18 station on-air including six new digital only Irish stations, with a further two stations launched in the Autumn of 2008. The market is currently waiting for the government to provide further regulation to move forward.
Current situation
in Ireland
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Last update: 08-09-2008
- older versions
| Population: | 4.0 million |
Coverage: | |
| Services: | 20 DAB |
In March 2008 RTÉ Radio's DAB trial was extended to bring coverage to Cork and Limerick. This is in addition to the existing coverage in Greater Dublin and the North East area and means that 44% of the population are now covered. The trial broadcasts are being led by RTÉ in cooperation with digitalRadio.ie, an industry group set up to explore the development and promotion of digital radio in Ireland. The members of this group are: 98FM, Digital Audio Productions, FM104, Newstalk 106-108 FM, Phantom 105.2, Q102, RTÉ Radio, SPIN 1038 and Today FM.
There are now 22 trial services on-air including ten new digital only Irish stations, with a further station (RTÉ Playback) due on air in the second half of 2008.
Coverage
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Last update: 26-08-2008
- older versions
As can be seen from the map, coverage is mainly focussed on the East coast, and nearby areas. There are two transmitters: Three Rock which covers the capital, Dublin; and Clermont Cam which provides coverage around Dundalk.
Services on Air Top
In this country there are
- National multiplex: 1 Trial
- Regional multiplexes: 2 Trial
| Simulcast on AM / FM | Exclusive on digital | Total of services | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAB programmes | 6 | 14 | 20 |
Regulation
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Last update: 08-09-2008
- older versions
In March 2007 the Broadcast (Amendment) Act was passed into law. This makes provision for the licensing of sound broadcast multiplexes to RTÉ and to the commercial sector. In June, the 2008 Broadcast Bill was published. This is expected to be enacted by the end of the year. The Bill proposes the establishment of a single regulator for both public and commercial broadcasters, the B.A.I. (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland). With respect to DAB, the Bill allows the regulator to determine DAB multiplex coverage areas and makes provision for the migration of existing broadcasters in those coverage areas to migrate to DAB through the concept of "relevant incumbent". The multiplex operator is then obliged to carry these services. Once an existing broadcaster begins transmission on DAB there is a provision for an extension of their FM licence for up to four years.
RTÉ is now broadcasting its second digital trial since November 2007 and expects ComReg to award it a full national multiplex licence by the end of November 2008. RTÉ Radio then plans to launch a digital radio awareness campaign around its digital services and new ways to listen.
Useful Links Top
http://www.digitalradio.ie/http://www.rte.ie/digitalradio/index.html