13-05-2008

On Tuesday 13 May 2008 the Dutch Government was given permission by the House of Representatives to auction two DAB licenses before Christmas 2008 in The Netherlands. The Allotments which will be awarded will be one nationwide coverage in Band III (1 multiplex) and one nationwide coverage in the L-band (117 multiplexes). The licenses are going to be put up for auction technology free (within the DAB spectrum mask), and the content criteria will be, 80% of the multiplex must be used for broadcast (Mobile TV, Visual Radio and radio).

In 2009 a further two DAB multiplexes will be awarded. These two multiplexes will both be in Band III and give twice the nationwide coverage. The use of these multiplexes will be 80% for radio broadcasting.

14-03-2008

There is currently 70% DAB population coverage, which is expected to rise to 90% in 2008.  The Dutch Government has approved the licensing of radio spectrum in December 2007.  DAB licenses will be handed out via an auction within the next months.  Two national coverage licenses in Band III and one nation-wide coverage license in L-Band will be issued.  Each individual allotment must contain a minimum of six radio programmes.  The remaining capacity can be used for other multimedia broadcasting services.  MTVNL, Mobiele Televisie Nederland, together with T-Systems and MFD, launched a six-month DMB trial on the 11th July 2007.  The trial covers the area of Den Haag using L-Band.  There are currently four video channels being broadcast during the trial.  MTVNL are now in the planning stages for the auction.  The National Public Broadcaster, NOS, currently broadcasts on DAB multiplex in the Netherlands.