Belgium - Coverage - History

In the three Belgian regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels), DAB coverage reaches more than 95% of the population.

All motorways and main roads are covered (therefore mobile coverage is about 99%).

Nationwide coverage of between one and three layers is achieved by combining the coverage of the different multiplexes on air in Belgium: One regional public multiplex for the Northern, Dutch speaking, part (>95% DAB coverage of North population), one regional public multiplex for the Southern, French speaking, part (90% DAB/DAB+ outdoor coverage of South population) and one regional commercial multiplex in the Northern part in DAB+ (25% coverage of the North population).
North (Flanders + Brussels): Regional coverage of Flanders and Brussels with a first layer by the public VRT multiplex with 9 DAB channels and one DAB+ trial channel (>95% DAB coverage of North population). Coverage with a second layer in DAB+, covering Brussels and the surrounding area, with 8 commercial radio stations. The coverage of the second layer will be extended to a community-wide deployment, expected in 2017. A data channel for traffic information is present (TPEG) on the public multiplex.

South (Wallonia + Brussels): 7 DAB channels (5 from the French speaking public broadcaster RTBF and 2 from the German speaking BRF) and 3 DAB+ trial channels (RTBF). Public funding partly request to update the current RTBF DAB/DAB+ network and to launch a second layer, in order to ensure indoor coverage of Brussels and Wallonia for almost the whole radio industry, with the objective to have a potential massive public launch in 2017. Data channel for traffic information (TPEG) on the public multiplex.

In the three Belgian regions (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels), DAB coverage reaches more than 95% of the population.

All motorways and main roads are covered (therefore mobile coverage is about 99%).

Currently one nationwide layer in operation (two regional public multiplexes – one for the Northern, Dutch speaking, part (>95% DAB coverage of North population) and one for the Southern, French speaking, part (90% DAB/DAB+ outdoor coverage of South population). Launch of a second (commercial) layer in May 2015 in the Northern part in DAB+ (25% coverage of the North population).
North (Flanders + Brussels): Launch on May 20th, 2015 of a second layer in DAB+ in Brussels and the surrounding area with 7 commercial radio stations as a first step in a community-wide deployment. This brings the total to 7 DAB+ channels (commercial broadcasters), 9 DAB channels (Flemish public broadcaster VRT) and one DAB+ trial channel (VRT). A data channel for traffic information is present (TPEG) on the public multiplex.
South (Wallonia + Brussels): 7 DAB channels (5 from the French speaking public broadcaster RTBF and 2 from the German speaking BRF) and 3 DAB+ trial channels (RTBF). Public funding partly request to update the current RTBF DAB/DAB+ network and to launch a second layer, in order to ensure indoor coverage of Brussels and Wallonia for almost the whole radio industry, with the objective to have a potential massive public launch in 2017. Data channel for traffic information (TPEG) on the public multiplex.