Estonia

Last update: 22.09.2023 - older versions

In September 2023, the Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia sent out an invitation to market players and stakeholders to participate in a public consultation to identify their interests and expectations regarding the introduction of digital radio and to plan the use of the 174-230 MHz band. DAB+ digital radio is currently in a trial phase in Estonia, allowing market players and listeners to try out the new technology. The test period will last until the end of 2023.

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia published a common set of principles for testing digital radio, which will allow market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023. 

Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, has now started testing DAB+. The first DAB+ transmitter was launched in Tallinn TV tower on 28 November at 15.20, The signal from the Tallinn and Pehka transmitters will be broadcast on DAB+ channel 10A and the Koeru transmitter will be on 7A. 

On 22 December 2022, the Koeru transmitter extended digital radio coverage to Central Estonia. A DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023. 

Currently in the ensemble managed by Levira, 14 radio stations can be heard on DAB+, and the ensemble is now full. Duo Media Networks' radio stations Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio, DFM and new digital-only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Tre Raadio and Power Hit Radio are testing digital radio.

In May 2023, a new ensemble was launched for testing by Duo Media Networks in the second biggest Estonian town of Tartu, and the third biggest, Pärnu. The ensemble currently includes seven stations from Duo Media Networks: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, and new digital-only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as religious stations Pereraadio and Semeinoje Eli. Additional stations are expected to be added in the near future.

The three Levira ensembles and two Duo Media Networks ensembles together now cover 75% of the Estonian population.

Last update: 07.09.2023 - older versions

Regions: Harju county (including Tallinn), Järva county (Koeru), Lääne-Virumaa county (Pehka), Pärnu county (Pärnu) and Tartu county (Tartu).

Coverage of population:  aprox. 75 %

Coverage of territory:       aprox.  45%

In this country there are

on air.

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB+ programmes 25 14 39

Last update: 27.11.2023 - older versions

The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia has announced a common set of principles for testing digital radio, which will allow market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023.

The trial period will run until 30 June 2024, and more detailed principles can be found here

Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, has now started testing DAB+. The first DAB+ transmitter was launched in Tallinn TV tower on 28 November at 15.20, The signal from the Tallinn and Pehka transmitters will be broadcast on DAB+ channel 10A and the Koeru transmitter will be on 7A. 

On 22 December 2022, the Koeru transmitter extended digital radio coverage to Central Estonia. A DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023. 

Currently, 26 radio stations can be listened to on DAB+, with more to follow soon. Duo Media Networks' radio stations Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio, DFM and new digital only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Tre Raadio and Power Hit Radio are testing digital radio.

In May 2023 a new ensemble was launched for testing by Duo Media Networks in the second biggest Estonian town, Tartu and the third biggest town, Pärnu. The ensemble currently includes 7 stations from Duo Media Networks: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, and new digital only stations Duo Gold, Duo Greatest Hits and Elmari Tantsuõhtu, as well as relegious stations Pereraadio and Semeinoje Eli additional stations will be added in the near future.

The first trial of DAB multiplex was held from 2000-2005.

Estonian regulator extends DAB+ trial, prepares licensing competition
12.12.2023 - Estonia Estonia
Digital radio (DAB+) trials in Estonia started last year, and now the Consumer Protection and Technical Supervision Authority (CTSA) has drawn up new principles on how to proceed with the trials and has started to prepare a competition for frequency licences. The testing period for digital radio in Estonia started last year and was initially due to run until the end of December, but was extended until the last day of June next year. Once the test period is over, frequency authorisations for digital radios will be issued following an open call for tenders. The first official digital radio programmes should therefore be broadcast in Estonia in the second half of next year.

(Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR)) Read more


Nearly 20 DAB+ digital radio channels can now be heard in Tallinn and Harju County
30.11.2023 - Estonia Estonia
Levira has launched a second digital radio DAB+ transmitter in Tallinn's Teletower, bringing the number of digital radio stations in Tallinn and Harju County to nearly twenty. Levira is testing DAB+, a digital radio service that is widely used in Europe, in cooperation with radio stations. The new transmitter will be launched on DAB+ channel 10D and will have a slightly different coverage area from the first transmitter on channel 10A, being more oriented towards Tallinn city centre and transmitting in horizontal polarisation. The new transmitter will be launched in cooperation with Duo Media Networks, and from the moment of its launch you will be able to listen to five new radio stations, which have not been available in Tallinn and Harju County so far.

(Levira) Read more


Estonia's first ever Ukrainian-language radio station launches this Friday
14.11.2023 - Estonia Estonia
This Friday sees the launch of Estonia's first ever Ukrainian-language radio station. "DRUZI" is a new platform that bridges two cultures, allowing audiences to enjoy Estonian and Ukrainian music as well as providing news and information. With more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion last February, Estonia's Ukrainian diaspora has quadrupled. To listen, set up your car radio to digital DRUZI radio (DAB+).

(ERR News) Read more


Estonian Radio 2's new digital radio channel offers alternative pop around the clock
12.10.2023 - Estonia Estonia
In October, Radio 2 launched a new sister series - the digital radio channel R2 Altpop. The chatter- and commercial-free channel features alternative pop all day, every day. The R2 Altpop DAB channel plays alternative music from Estonian and foreign artists. Digiradio R2 Altpop is R2's first test channel of its kind, free of news, chat and mainstream music. The Altpop channel is suitable for listeners who want a change from chart hits. DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) is the standard for digital radio broadcasting. To listen to a DAB channel, you need a device with DAB+ signal reception support. Most newer cars have DAB+ reception, and some radios support it. The R2 Altpop channel can be found alongside other DAB channels.

(ERR Eesti Rahvusringhääling) Read more


DAB+ emergency warning test in Estonia
19.09.2023 - Estonia Estonia
In March this year, the CREVEX complex exercise began, which has involved several months of exercises in different security and internal security agencies. Kadi Luht-Kallas, adviser to the Rescue and Safety Policy Department of the Ministry of the Interior, told Digigenius that the test, which will take place today at 19.30, can be said to be a quick pre-test for DAB+. "For up to 60 seconds, Klassikaraadio will be routed to the channel and a text about the test will be displayed, after which the radio itself should move back to the previous setting, but this may vary depending on the device," she described.

(Digigenius) Read more


Estonia regulator TTJA launches public consultation on digital radio
15.09.2023 - Estonia Estonia
The Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA) / Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority in Estonia has sent out an invitation to market players and stakeholders to participate in a public consultation to identify their interests and expectations regarding the introduction of digital radio and to plan the use of the 174-230 MHz band. "Through this public consultation, we want to identify the interests and expectations of all stakeholders in the field of digital radio," said Erko Kulu, Head of the Frequency Management Unit of the TTJA. DAB+ digital radio is currently in a trial phase in Estonia, allowing market players and listeners to try out the new technology. The test period will last until the end of 2023.

(Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet (TTJA)) Read more


Testing of digital radio in Estonia will continue until the end of the year
29.06.2023 - Estonia Estonia
The testing period for the DAB+ digital radio service, which started at the end of last year, is extended until 31 December 2023. Digital radio test transmitters are operating in the Tallinn TV Tower, in Koeru and in Pehka in Haljala Rural Municipality. Duo Media Networks has also installed test transmitters in Pärnu and Tartu. "The tests confirm that the new generation digital radio is much more advanced. Signal quality and availability in the planned coverage area sometimes even exceeded expectations. We intend to launch the transmitter on the Valgjärve mast in the autumn, fulfilling the initial plan to create a test opportunity for the entire Tallinn-Luhamaa route. One of the reasons for extending the testing period is listener interest and positive feedback - many people want to listen to digital radio in their cars, especially in summer," said Cristo Kaasan, Levira's Director of Technology and IT.

(Postimees) Read more


New Russian-language radio station in Estonia
07.06.2023 - Estonia Estonia
As of June 1, 2023, a new radio station, Radio Nostalgia, was introduced to the Estonian airwaves. The station is unique in that it does not broadcast on FM, but on the digital format DAB+, which is new to Estonia. The music playlist on Nostalgia Radio consists of the good old hits from the '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s and songs from recent years in Russian, Ukrainian, Estonian, English, Italian, Spanish and other languages.

(Delfi) Read more


Duo Media Networks launches transmitters in Tartu region
11.05.2023 - Estonia Estonia
Since the end of last year, digital radio has been broadcast in Harju County, Järva County and Lääne-Viru County, and now Duo Media Networks has added transmitters in Tartu County and Pärnu County. This means that more than 70% of Estonia's population can now listen to the new generation of radio. Risto Rosimannus, CEO of Duo Media Networks, said: "The digitalisation of radio offers a lot of opportunities for listeners. "Firstly, the sound quality will improve, secondly, the coverage will improve significantly and thirdly, the choice of radio stations will increase," said Rosimannus. In addition to the launch of two transmitters in Tartu and Pärnu, Duo Media also launched three new digital radio stations in cooperation with the Swedish company RAZ Media: Elmari Tantsuõhtu, Duo Greatest Hits and Duo Gold.

(Postimees) Read more


Second DAB+ multiplex in Estonia
08.05.2023 - Estonia Estonia
A second DAB+ project has started in Estonia. The company Duo Media Networks OÜ has put its own multiplex on the air. The following programmes are broadcast: Raadio KUKU, Radio ELMAR, MyHits, HAPODHOE RADIO, DFM Tallinn, Raadio Duo. Since 30 April, the service has been broadcasting from the Tartus transmitter on channel 5A and the Pärnus transmitter on channel 6A.

(SatelliFax) Read more


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Key Information

Status: trial and/or regulation
Population: 1.3 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 75%
Services: 39 DAB+
Last update: 16.01.2024

Useful Links

Development Plan (2018-2010) Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) / Estonian Public Broadcasting
Estonian Public Broadcaster (Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR))
Estonian Broadcasting Union (ERL)
Digilevi - details of the DAB+ trial
Levira - network operator
Association of Estonian Broadcasters
Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority