Bahrain current situation
Status regular
Last update: 06.09.2023 - older versions
Bahrain officially launched DAB services on 31 August 2023.
Dr. Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, the Minister of Information, said that the launch of the DAB+ digital audio broadcasting service represented a unique leap forward for the radio industry in Bahrain, which has a history of over 80 years.
Prior to this, the Information Affairs Authority (IAA) started a DAB+ trial in cooperation with transmitter manufacturer, Rohde and Schwarz covering 40% of Bahrain. The DAB+ trial started on 15th December 2016 with low power 300 watts. The IAA broadcasted four programmes. As of 15 January 2017 the IAA had already started a field strength survey. The trial was on air until end February 2017.
Bahrain services on air
In this country there is
- National multiplex: 1 Regular
| Simulcast on AM / FM | Exclusive on digital | Total of services | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAB+ programmes | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Bahrain automotive
Last update: 05.08.2015
Less than 1% of vehicles in Bahrain come with DAB/DAB+ digital radio as standard.
Bahrain receiver market
Last update: 14.11.2023
The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) List of GSO Technical Regulations for Motor Vehicles (2024 Model Year) states:
Implementation of Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/TDAB+:
Bahrain: if the vehicle is provided with AM/FM/T-DAB+, it should comply with GSO 2693:2022: The GCC Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/T-DAB+.
Bahrain regulation and spectrum
Last update: 29.10.2026 - older versions
Bahrain has legislation regarding in-vehicle receivers. If the vehicle is provided with AM/FM/T-DAB+, it must comply with GSO 2693:2022, SASO 2938:2019 or UAE.S 5021: 2018.
In April 2026, the GCC Standardisation Organisation (GSO), a standards organisation for the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Yemen, published GSO 2693:2026, The GCC Terrestrial Radio Receiver Specifications for AM/FM/T-DAB+. It says:
This specification shall apply to all producers, manufacturers, importers and retailers who wish to sell radio receivers and all other products which have built-in radio receivers in the GCC countries.
This specification shall be used to assess the eligibility of a product for use in the GCC countries.
This specification covers devices which can receive terrestrially transmitted AM, FM and T-DAB+ radio services. Some of these devices may also receive other digital radio services via alternative delivery platforms, such as the internet. This specification does not cover details of a receiver intended to receive digital services via these alternative delivery platforms.
This specification covers many types of receivers, including home receivers, portable receivers, devices integrated into the vehicle dashboard and aftermarket devices mounted in the dashboard, behind the dashboard, to the vehicle windscreen or elsewhere.
This specification covers devices whose sole function is to receive radio services, and devices which have one or more other functions in addition to receiving radio services.
The document was an update to GSO 2693:2022, officially released on May 12, 2022 by Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO) with document No. GSO:803170.
Bahrain overview
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