Belgium - Current situation - History
03.12.2018
DAB+ was officially launched in Belgium across both French and Flemish-speaking parts of the country in November 2018, as part of Digital Radio Week.
DAB+ coverage across the country currently stands at 95%, while the number of new cars equipped with DAB+ in the country is 30%, a figure which is expected to grow significantly following the European Parliament’s vote to adopt a directive requiring all new cars sold in the European Union to be equipped with digital radio receivers.
The number of regional DAB+ stations in the country, and the number of receiver devices sold, accounting for 33 and 500,000+ respectively, is also expected to increase in coming years as interest in DAB+ in Belgium continues to grow.
27.09.2018
A federal launch of DAB+ is planned for 2018, with 99% population DAB+ coverage anticipated. In Wallonia, government, public and private broadcasters supportive of EU receiver regulation. DAB+ radio frequencies will be available for tender for the first time in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium, after the regulator CSA has approved the tender process to proceed. Successful tenders will be awarded for nine years.
In Flanders, the government is preparing legislation for the renewal of FM licensing with a timeline for implementation of DAB+ by 2018.
The Flemish government approved on 13 May 2016 the concept of the automatic renewal of the FM licenses for the major commercial broadcasters until 2022, coupled with the obligation to invest in in DAB+. The government also decided that FM shutdown should take place two years after the reach of 50% digital listening time, with an ultimate switch-off date to be decided by the end of 2016.
French speaking Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels)
In June 2018, the Parliament of Wallonia-Brussels Federation approved a draft decree to amend audiovisual services in French-speaking Belgium, paving the way for the deployment of DAB+ services in the region.
Public and commercial broadcasters agreed on a four-tier strategy for migration from analogue to digital radio: broadcast via DAB+, online single radioplayer, hybrid radio and radio on TV. In summer 2011 the Parliament of the French speaking Community adopted unanimously a resolution asking the French-speaking Government to support the migration to digital radio in DAB+.
Flemish speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels)
The public broadcaster for the Belgian Flemish Community, Vlaamse Radio – en Televisie omroep (VRT), has one DAB multiplex on air since 1997, covering Flanders and Brussels with nine radio stations. The network operator Norkring België operates VRT’s multiplex.
A dedicated digital radio website was launched in May 2015 for promotion and information on DAB and DAB+ in Flanders and Brussels (www.digitalradio.vlaanderen).
Country wide
As VRT and RTBF’s multiplexes cover the whole country’s main road networks, since 2012 they have been broadcasting data traffic information (via TPEG) on behalf of Be Mobile, a company specialised in the provision of traffic and mobility content.
18.06.2018
A federal launch of DAB+ is planned for 2018, with 99% population DAB+ coverage anticipated. In Wallonia, government, public and private broadcasters supportive of EU receiver regulation. In Flanders, the government is preparing legislation for the renewal of FM licensing with a timeline for implementation of DAB+ by 2018.
The Flemish government approved on 13 May 2016 the concept of the automatic renewal of the FM licenses for the major commercial broadcasters until 2022, coupled with the obligation to invest in in DAB+. The government also decided that FM shutdown should take place two years after the reach of 50% digital listening time, with an ultimate switch-off date to be decided by the end of 2016.
French speaking Belgium (Wallonia and Brussels)
In June 2018, the Parliament of Wallonia-Brussels Federation approved a draft decree to amend audiovisual services in French-speaking Belgium, paving the way for the deployment of DAB+ services in the region.
Public and commercial broadcasters agreed on a four-tier strategy for migration from analogue to digital radio: broadcast via DAB+, online single radioplayer, hybrid radio and radio on TV. In summer 2011 the Parliament of the French speaking Community adopted unanimously a resolution asking the French-speaking Government to support the migration to digital radio in DAB+.
Flemish speaking Belgium (Flanders and Brussels)
The public broadcaster for the Belgian Flemish Community, Vlaamse Radio – en Televisie omroep (VRT), has one DAB multiplex on air since 1997, covering Flanders and Brussels with nine radio stations. The network operator Norkring België operates VRT’s multiplex.
A dedicated digital radio website was launched in May 2015 for promotion and information on DAB and DAB+ in Flanders and Brussels (www.digitalradio.vlaanderen).
Country wide
As VRT and RTBF’s multiplexes cover the whole country’s main road networks, since 2012 they have been broadcasting data traffic information (via TPEG) on behalf of Be Mobile, a company specialised in the provision of traffic and mobility content.