News

Following consultation, the CSA has decided to revise the schedule of calls for candidacy to allocate DAB+ frequencies in France. Three major calls for applications are now planned: the first two, in July 2018 and at the latest in July 2019, will each focus on "fifteen zones centered on agglomerations of more than 175,000 inhabitants" and with a small number of local areas. The third call, envisaged mid-2018 this time will concern frequencies at the national level.

Updates from the Netherlands, Germany and Latvia on the expansion of DAB+. Reception of DAB+ for both commercial and public radio has recently seen a boost in the Utrecht, in the Netherlands. Media Broadcast has completed their plans to cover Germany as best they can, using 110 different mux transmitters. Whilst Latvia officially launched DAB+ testing in December 2016.

The number of local broadcasters trialing DAB+ transmissions is growing steadily in the Netherlands. DAB+ offers the opportunity for local stations to provide listeners with more content and in a better sound quality.

Regional radio stations that broadcast via DAB+ now have better coverage in the centre of the Netherlands. Channel Operator Broadcast Partners was commissioned by the radio stations that broadcast on the regional DAB+ network on channel 8A new aid station commissioned in Lopik.

The Norwegian Government has decided that the FM will be gradually switched off. The first FM transmitter will be switched off on 11 January 2017 in the region of Nordland. The process will be completed in December 2017.

Norway is the first country in the world to turn off analogue radio and switch exclusively to digital radio via DAB+. Many countries across Europe will be looking at Norway, when deciding on the future of radio in their country.

Bauer Radio is expanding its broadcasting network and has announced the launch of further digital radio stations in Norway. One of Bauer's new stations is Radio Norsk Pop, which focuses on Norwegian music. Norsk Pop can be heard on the nationwide DAB+ network.

There are now many types of digital radio on the market that can make for a really great entertainment system in your car. The great thing about digital radio is that it is very clear, and does not suffer from the kind of distortion that you get from many other types of radio output

The Flemish Parliament has approved the new radio plan of the Flemish Media Minister Gatz. The new plan provides a focus on digital radio via DAB+. The FM licenses of the national commercial radio stations in Flanders (Qmusic, Joe and Nostalgia) will be extended by four years until the end of 2021. However, these stations must begin broadcasting via DAB+ from September 2018.

Digitalradio Büro Deutschland looks back at the success of DAB+ throughout Germany in 2016. In Germany almost 14% of the population listen to DAB+ regularly, which is almost ten million people, an increease of 2.1 million than in the 2015.