Population:	16.0 million
Coverage:	70%
Services:	9 DAB, 3 Data

Last update: 19-01-2008

Digital radio in The Netherlands has had ups and downs over the years and, until now, has failed to find traction with commercial broadcasters. This is due in part to the added costs involved in dual transmission.

In 2009 the Ministry agreed that, when analogue licences expire in 2011, instead of auctioning them off to the highest bidder, it would reissue them to the incumbent broadcaster if it in turn agreed to go digital. Commercial broadcasters have until September 2010 to take advantage of this offer however there remains an issue over the cost of these licences.

The issue is further complicated by a recent change of government.

Also in 2009, the Ministry auctioned two broadcast licences, one in Band III and one in L-band. Broadcasters can opt to transmit in DAB, DAB+ or DMB and it is likely that DAB+ will be the standard of choice for most.

For those broadcasting in L-band, it therefore becomes necessary that radio sets receiving DAB+ broadcasts in L-band are available.

The National Public Broadcaster, PO, broadcasts audio nine stations and three data channels on a national multiplex operated by NOS.  The services are all simulcasts of existing PO stations, including pop, classical, oldies, current affairs and news.  Coverage of this multiplex is about 70% of the population.

Licences have also been issued in Band III to MTVNL which is currently testing DMB transmissions in The Hague, and in L-band to CallMax which plans testing in the Eindhoven area.

A national Band III multiplex licence will be issued to commercial radio in late 2010 or early 2011.  A regional Band III multiplex for combined public and commercial services will be issued in late 2010 or early 2011.

There is no FM switch off date, but FM licences will be extended for 6 years until the end of 2017. Formal policy is that ultimately 1-2 year before the end of the FM licences, there will be a full review regarding FM switch off.

There is currently 70% population coverage with sites including Arnhem, Den Haag, East Amsterdam, Hilversum, Haarlem, Lelystad, Loon op Zand, Lopik, Mierlo, Rotterdam.
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In this country there is

• National multiplex: 1 Trial

This carries nine audio services (simulcast) and three data services (DAB only) and is broadcast by the public broadcaster NOS.

There is a small number of specialist retailers selling DAB digital radios.

MTVNL is currently testing DMB transmissions in The Hague area. 

A test of DAB+ in L-band by CallMax is scheduled for the Eindhoven area in 2010.

The Dutch government issues DAB licences and determines the terms and conditions that apply to the use of DAB in the Netherlands. It was announced that Band III and L-band should be used for DAB based services.  Broadcasters may choose to use DAB, DAB+ or DMB.  The majority of interested parties are likely to choose DAB+.