Population:	11.0 million
Coverage:	100%

Last update: 03-09-2011

DAB was introduced in Belgium in 1997.

“De Vlaamse Radio – en Televisieomroep” (VRT), is the public broadcaster in the Flemish community. 

VRT has one DAB multiplex in operation with 9 main channels including 3 DAB only brand extensions for News+, Klara Continuo and MNM Hits 

French speaking Belgium

RTBF (Radio Télévision belge de la Communauté française de Belgique) is currently testing four DAB+ audio & data programmes. The aim is to plan a roadmap for DAB+ in French speaking Belgium, together with the private broadcasters, subject to approval from the Government and the CSA. 

In Spring 2011 a common vision of the main broadcasters, both private and public, was defined with a 4-tier strategy for migration from analogue to digital.

By Summer 2011 the Parliament had asked the French-speaking Government to support the digital migration of radio as from 2011.

The Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (regulation body) launched a public consultation about digital radio in autumn 2011. The DAB+ proposed roll out is for 5 multiplexes in 2 layers  in Band III

The next steps are to achieve political and funding agreement & the creation of a common consortium which is planned for the beginning of 2012

Plans for 2012 are to achieve technical roll-out (upgrade of the RTBF DAB network to DAB+) + marketing and commercial preparation, with an official public launch in 2013. 

Both in the Flemish and the French region, DAB coverage reaches 100% of the population. Also, all motorways and main roads are covered.

In this country there are

• National multiplexes: 2 Regular

• Flemish-speaking part of the country: nine audio programmes (three of which DAB only) by the public broadcaster VRT
• French-speaking part of the country: five audio programmes (simulcast) by the public broadcaster RTBF and two audio programmes (simulcast) by the German speaking public broadcaster BRF . Four audio & data programmes are also currently tested.

The availability of DAB receivers in Belgium continues to grow with a range of devices now on the market, including kitchen radios, handheld and tuners.  As more DAB services launch, with marketing campaigns to support them, sales are expected to grow significantly.

Broadcasting legislation in Belgium differs between the Flemish, French and German speaking communities. Licences will be granted to programme providers only in the French community, licences in the Flemish community will, most likely, be granted to the multiplex operator and may have restrictions. Simulcasting is permitted within both French and Flemish communities and there are no specific rules or conditions governing this. There is also no legislation governing advertising, sponsorship and marketing on DAB digital radio broadcasting. No information is available on plans for FM switch off or over at the present time.