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Norway is set to become the first nation to start switching off its FM radio network next week, in a risky and unpopular leap to digital technology that will be closely watched by other countries considering whether to follow suit.

11 January 2017 marks the start of the digital switchover in Norway, begining with the FM signal being switched off in Nordland. By the end of 2017 all of Norway will have transitioned fully to digital radio.

The countdown is on to the official start of digital radio switchover in Norway, beginning on January 11th at 11:11.11am. The formal ceremony in Norway will be watched by many countries around the world who themselves are heading towards a digital radio future, including the UK. Norway is the first country in the world to move the majority of its radio stations off FM.

The countdown is on to the official start of digital radio switchover in Norway, beginning on January 11th at 11:11.11am. The formal ceremony in Norway will be watched by many countries around the world who themselves are heading towards a digital radio future, including the UK.

At CES 2017, NXP Semiconductors announced the SAF4000 chip. It is a unique solution for both analogue and digital radio for car which reduces cost, complexity and logistics for car OEMs considerably.

The President of the German State has approved the allocation of frequencies for the country's second national DAB multiplex. The tender process for the new multiplex began recently and is expected to be completed by April 2017.

The National Council for Radio and Television Broadcasting in Ukraine put forward a proposal on 22 December 2016 to allocate spectrum for the deployment of DAB+. Executive Secretary of the National Council Oleksandr Ilyashenko said "We have long studied the experience of our European colleagues and concluded that it is necessary to give digital radio an opportunity to develop."

On 11th January at 11.11.11am  FM signal will be switched off in the Nordland region and radio will be broadcast via DAB+ instead. Communication Manager Mari Hagerup for Digitalradio Norway says "DAB coverage in Nordland will maintain high standards and that they are ready for the digital transition."

The new third generation Ruark Audio R2 is updated with new features. In addition to digital radio, dual alarm function or analogue connections the latest model now offers multiroom capabilities via Wi-Fi.

The number of local broadcasters in the Netherlands who broadcast via DAB+ is growing steadily. Recently local broadcasters Exxact FM (Barendrecht) and Radio City Delft have begun transmitting via DAB+. Both of these stations use the DAB+ network Omroep Vlaardingen