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The VRT, Qmusic, Joe, Nostalgie, network operator Norkring and the government signed a so-called "memorandum of understanding" on Friday to enact the further rollout of DAB+ in the region.

Digital radio now reaches 61.7% of the national population, a 1% increase on Q3 and 6.6% for the same period in 2016. Dwell time on digital shows an even starker improvement in total hours, 1.4% up vs the previous Rajar and 9.3% vs Q4 2016. In an average week, this now counts for 518 million hours of radio consumption with DAB taking a 73% share.

With 20 pre-set stations, it is easy to access DAB + and FM stations in crystal clear quality. Listeners can also enjoy their personal music library from any device via the Bluetooth feature.

According to RAJAR's Q4 2017 report, 49.9% of all radio listening is now done digitally, up 10% year-on-year. The growth was driven by a surge in digital listening for commercial radio stations, which for the first time exceed 50% at 51.6%, up from 45% year-on-year. A trigger will go off once digital listening hits 50%, when the government will officially move closer to a potential digital radio switchover with a policy review. Options will include recommending that additional transmitters are brought into service to increase local DAB coverage.

The new German coalition government comprising of the CDU, SPD and CSU have agreed to place legislation regarding the future of digital radio in the country, along with amending "§ 48 of the Telecommunications Act (TKG) in view of the changing demands on digital radio to strengthen digital radio as a low-threshold medium".

The new German coalition government has published a draft agreement stating their intention to change §48 Telecommunications Act (TKG ), aimed at promoting the digitisation of radio in the country.

Digital listening is at an all-time high – with 62% saying we now tune in each week via a digital platform. This is consistent with the latest figures which show DAB ownership is also at its highest too.

The council meeting of the Bavarian State Centre for New Media (BLM) will decide on Thursday on the dissemination of HITRADIO RT1 Northern Swabia via DAB+. It is planned to broadcast the Donauwörther program in the Ausgburg multiplex on channel 9C. For the additional simultaneous digital distribution of the unmodified VHF radio program, the provider shall be allocated a data capacity of 60 CU (net data rate 80 kbit / s with error protection EEP 3A) for use by 30 June 2020.

Radio FG is continuing to develop its DAB+ network, through which the station is already broadcast in the cities of Marseille and Nice. In the second half of 2018, FG will broadcast its program in DAB+ in Lyon, Strasbourg, Lille, Lens, Arras, Bethune, and Douai.

Q4 figures are in from the British radio market and it shows and all time high for digital listening. The majority of digital listening was via DAB digital radio that has 36.3 per cent of all radio listening and 72.8 per cent of all digital listening.