Belgium - Current situation - History
05.01.2023
In the French-speaking part of Belgium (Walloon region/French Community), legislation has been adopted stating that all receivers need to have a DAB+ receiver, with the exception of low-entry receivers (which do not have a alpha-numeric display). These (low entry without digital display) receivers do not need a DAB+ receiver built in. The text has been adopted by their Government on December 21st and enters into force on January 1st 2023.
In Flemish-speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels), by decree (Flemish law) of 12/02/2021, a government-proposed text was adopted by the Flemish Parliament stating:
"Art. 209/1. All equipment intended for the reception of FM radio signals from a radio broadcaster intended and sold in Flanders must be able to receive digital radio signals. The obligation stated in the first sentence of this paragraph does not apply to radio equipment used by radio amateurs, smartphones and tablets."
This text entered into force on January 1st 2023.
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019, following a year of trial broadcasts.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 98%, a figure which is expected to reach 100% in 2022.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
The annual Ipsos DAB+ survey published in February 2022 showed that by end 2021 was 78% of French-speaking Belgian listeners had already heard of DAB+. Sales of DAB+ enabled home receivers grew by 13% in 2021, offsetting sales of analog FM receivers, which fell by 7%. Listening on DAB+ has grown steadily since 2018, with 22% of French-speaking Belgians tuning in.
04.05.2022
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019, following a year of trial broadcasts.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 98%, a figure which is expected to reach 100% in 2022.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
The annual Ipsos DAB+ survey published in February 2022 showed that by end 2021 was 78% of French-speaking Belgian listeners had already heard of DAB+. Sales of DAB+ enabled home receivers grew by 13% in 2021, offsetting sales of analog FM receivers, which fell by 7%. Listening on DAB+ has grown steadily since 2018, with 22% of French-speaking Belgians tuning in.
16.02.2022
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, while the official launch of DAB+ in French-speaking Belgium took place in November 2019.
DAB+ population coverage across the country currently stands at 97%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 98%, a figure which is expected to reach 100% in 2022.
DAB+ awareness and sales in French-speaking Belgium
The annual Ipsos DAB+ survey published in February 2022 showed that by end 2021 was 78% of French-speaking Belgian listeners had already heard of DAB+. Sales of DAB+ enabled home receivers grew by 13% in 2021, offsetting sales of analog FM receivers, which fell by 7%. Listening on DAB+ has grown steadily since 2018, with 22% of French-speaking Belgians tuning in.