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The Scandinavian nation is set to become the first country in the world to switch off its FM network, and the city of Bodo is the first to lose its connection. Over the next 11 months, Norway’s five other radio regions will also their signal as the country moves to a digital-only radio network.

Norway plans to shut off its FM radio network, meaning the country will be the first to totally abandon FM transmissions for Digital Audio Broadcasts (DAB). But though Norway is the first country to do so wholesale, it is hardly the only country that is considering the move. In the UK, the switch from FM to DAB might be coming soon.

Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital Radio UK, said: “Norway and the UK both have a common vision of a digital future for radio to allow it to compete effectively in a multiplatform and connected world. Norway has opted to accelerate the transition to digital radio through a coordinated digital radio switchover.

Norway will be the first country to start turning off FM radio. Over the course of 2017, the FM radio network will slowly be switched off, with listeners only able to listen to digital programmes instead.

Eivind Engberg, CTO of Twentyfirst Venture AS and chief engineer of three stations in Norway: Radio Metro, The Beat and Radio Rox discusses the benefits and potential challenges of the upcoming digital switchover in Norway.

A new era for radio is heralded this week as Norway becomes the first country in the world to begin the process of switching off national FM transmissions to complete the transition to fully digital radio services. The FM-switch off takes place on Wednesday 11 January and will be marked by an international ceremony attended by senior radio and media policy figures including the Norwegian Secretary of State, Bård Folke Fredriksen; Paul Keenan, CEO Bauer Media UK and the Nordics; and Graham Dixon, Head of Radio, European Broadcasting Union.

Laurence Harrison, Market Development Director, Digital Radio UK, arrives in Norway for the big DAB event.Tuesday sees a conference with the great and the good from Norwegian radio plus international guest speakers. Then follows on Wednesday morning at 11.11.11am (10.11.11am in the UK) the big FM switch off moment with the Norwegian Secretary of State, Bård Folke Fredriksen.

The comparatively low costs of Small Scale DAB make it possible that even financially weaker local radio stations can spread their program via DAB+. The broadcasting of event radios or campus radios, which is limited in time and place, is also possible.

At CES. Ford Motor Co. Executive Director of Connected Vehicles and Services Don Butler, noted how the consumption of radio remains a constant. “When we look at surveys, more than half our users and owners continue to listen to radio inside the vehicle, and we don’t see that changing. We still want to make sure we provide broadly accessible means of entertainment and information to people and radio plays a huge part in that as well.”

In 2016, 2.28 million new cars were sold with a digital radio, the first time the two million mark has been breached. Digital technology allows motorists to access over 400 radio stations, and will become an increasingly important in-car feature with the Government committed to switching off the UK’s analogue radio coverage once DAB coverage reaches 50% of listeners – currently coverage stands at 45.5%.