Bahrain

The six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Yemen) have published a new regulation for AM/FM/T-DAB+ in vehicles. So far, this topic has been regulated only in two of the GCC members – now, more harmonization is brought to the GCC. The name of the regulation is GCC Technical Regulation for Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/T-DAB+, and it is mostly based on the one applicable so far in the united Arab Emirates. The standard describes the specification of devices, which can receive terrestrially transmitted AM, FM and T-DAB+ radio services. The proposed date of adoption is still be determined.

DAB+ may be best known for its widespread adoption in Europe, but this digital radio standard is also taking hold in other parts of the world. The progress of DAB+ implementations in Ghana, Indonesia and Bahrain as covered at the WorldDAB Summit 2023 this week. The session “Global growth of DAB+ led by emerging territories” was part of the one-day in-person/online event, hosted at the Design Offices München Atlas in Munich, Germany. DAB+ in Ghana was described by Christiana L. Attrams, assistant manager of the National Communications Authority’s Engineering Division. The NCA is conducting DAB+ trial broadcasts in the cities of Accra (11 FM stations being simulcast) and Kamasi (seven FM stations being simulcast), using VHF Band III.

Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Information, Engineer Abdullah Ahmed Al Balushi, participated on 8 November as a keynote speaker in the WorldDAB Summit 2023 held in Munich, where he reviewed the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in launching digital radio broadcasting. Participation came via video recording and at the invitation of the international organisation WorldDAB, where the Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs conveyed the initiative of the Ministry of Information in the Kingdom of Bahrain in activating digital radio broadcasting DAB+ and future plans with manufacturers of mobile devices and receivers, noting the necessity of adding text in Arabic.

Bahrain recently inaugurated a brand-new futuristic radio facility intended to house private radio stations. Eng Abdulla Ahmed Al Balooshi, Assistant Undersecretary of Technical at Bahrain’s Ministry of Information, takes Vijaya Cherian on an exclusive tour of the facility. One of the facility’s standout features is its state-of-the-art equipment. Al Balooshi elaborates: “We have also constructed a DAB+ platform, propelling Bahrain into the digital era of radio. What we have assembled is a comprehensive package exclusively for the private sector. Already we have received requests from clients for the DAB+ platform, and that is an indication of its immense potential.”

Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Bahrain's Minister of Information said that the launch of the DAB+ digital audio broadcasting service represents a unique leap forward for the radio industry in Bahrain, which has a history of over 80 years. He explained that this project has been implemented in cooperation with leading companies specialised in radio technology, to provide the latest and best equipment and technologies for private radio stations. The minister said that one of the most prominent features of DAB+ is the significant saving in transmission costs and the improved quality of the signal, in addition to the easy access to receivers and easy search for radio stations by name rather than frequency.

Engineer Abdullah Al Balushi, Assistant Undersecretary for Technical Affairs at the Ministry of Information, said that the transmitters were provided with the digital headend system from the French company Digidia, the radio broadcasting system from the German company Rohde & Schwarz, the antenna system from the German company Kathrein - all well-known companies internationally. He explained that the new studios feature DAB+ technology, which displays information on the screen of radio receivers’ devices, ensures exceptional sound quality, provides more opportunities to choose stations, creates revenue opportunities, and also has the feature of targeted advertisements.

The Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, today inaugurated the main studio of the Bahrain TV News Centre and the private radio channels building at the Ministry of Information premises in Isa Town. The project's opening coincides with the launch of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB+) technology, considered the third and most modern generation of broadcasting systems.

His Excellency Dr. Ramzan bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Information, said that the launch of DAB+ alongside the opening of private radio studios by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Prime Minister, represents a significant qualitative leap in radio work in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The new broadcasting system provides multiple capabilities to increase broadcasting horizons and the extent of radio coverage.