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Estonia

Last update: 17.10.2025 - older versions

On 1 September 2025, DAB+ digital radio transmitters officially began broadcasting in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Koeru and Valgjärve. At launch, listeners were able to access a total of 23 different radio stations.

In October, additional transmitters were launched in Haapsalu, Kohtla-Nõmme in Ida-Virumaa, Orissaare in Saaremaa, and Pehka in Lääne-Virumaa.

The full list of available channels can be found at https://dabplus.ee

According to a 2025 survey by Turu-Uuringute AS, 11% of the Estonian population has already listened to digital radio, and there are an estimated 120,000 receivers in the country with DAB+ capability.

DAB+ digital radio has been available in Estonia as a test service since December 2022. At the beginning of 2025, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) organised a public call for tenders for frequency licences, in which Levira’s bid was successful.

This process followed a consultation, the results of which were published in March 2024. This stated: "it is clear that there is market interest in digital radio... According to the state, the introduction of digital radio will create an additional opportunity for radio programme owners to get their own programmes on air. Today, there are more potential radio programmes than the FM frequency resource allows, and a choice has to be made between radio programmes. Digital radio, with its additional frequency resource, would help to overcome this problem and diversify the Estonian media landscape."

DAB+ trials from 2022

DAB+ digital radio is currently in a trial phase in Estonia, allowing market players and listeners to try out the new technology.

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, started testing DAB+. The first DAB+ transmitter was launched in Tallinn TV tower on 28 November 2022 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.

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.

Last update: 22.10.2025 - older versions

DAB+ radio stations are currently broadcast via two networks (R1 and R3), which will reach 80% of the Estonian population by the fourth quarter of 2025. The network will be expanded in stages:

September 1, 2025: Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Koeru, and Valgjärve

Fourth quarter: Haapsalu, Pehka, Orissaare, and Kohtla-Nõmme (network R1 only)

As DAB+ becomes more popular, the coverage area will be expanded and improved in the future. Network R2 will be launched if all R1 network resources are in use and there is a need for additional radio stations.

Network R1 coverage area as of 31 October 2025

Map of Estonia showing network R1 coverage area as of 31 October 2025

R3 network coverage area. The R3 network broadcasts stations owned by Duo Media Networks and the coverage area is shown as of 1 September 2025.

Map of Estonia showing R3 network coverage area

In this country there are

National multiplexes: 2 Regular

on air.

	Simulcast on AM / FM	Exclusive on digital	Total of services
DAB+ programmes	11	13	24

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.

Last update: 21.10.2025

Digiraadio is a non-profit-organisation; the members are private broadcasters All Media Eesti, Duo Media Networks, Nuvola Media, and the Estonian public broadcaster, as well as transmission company Levira.

The main goal of Digiraadio is to inform listeners that DAB+ is now in regular service in Estonia and to popularise the DAB+ platform. DAB+ energises the Estonia radio market, brings new and exclusive content to listeners, and adds an important piece to the safety alert system for informing the Estonian population in case of emergency.

NBO members can be all persons who share the same goals from Estonia, and also outside.

Testing of digital radio in Estonia will continue until the end of the year

29.06.2023 - 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

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

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

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

Digital radio coverage extended to Lääne-Virumaale

12.01.2023 - Estonia

Levira's DAB+ digital radio transmitter started operating on 11 January at the Pehka transmitter station, as a result of which the coverage area of digital radio now extends not only to Tallinn and Central Estonia, but also to Lääne-Viru county. Thanks to the transmitter in Haljala municipality, digital radio can now be listened to in almost all of Lääne-Viru County. On the Tallinn-Narva highway, digital radio reaches as far as Aseri and beyond under favourable conditions. Currently, 11 radio stations can be listened to on DAB+: Raadio Elmar, Raadio Kuku, Raadio MyHits, Raadio Duo, Narodnoe Radio and DFM, as well as Star FM Eesti, Klassikaraadio, Äripäev Raadio, Power Hit Radio and Tre Raadio.

(Levira) Read more

Koeru transmitter extends digital radio coverage to Central Estonia

22.12.2022 - Estonia

This morning, Levira's DAB+ digital radio transmitter started operating at the Koeru transmitter mast, with its 300-metre-high antenna extending the digital radio test area from Tallinn to central Estonia. Levira, in cooperation with Duo Media Networks and Mediainvest Holdings, is testing DAB+, a digital radio service widely used in Europe. The first digital radio transmitter was launched at the Tallinn TV Tower on 28 November, and after Koeru, a DAB+ transmitter will start operating in the Haljala municipality of Pehka in early 2023.

(Levira) Read more

Paneda supports Estonian DAB trial

30.11.2022 - Paneda WorldDAB Member - Estonia

Johan Ericsson, Sales Manager at Paneda says: “We are happy to see our neighbouring countries showing an increasing interest for DAB, and we are happy to support Levira in this project by providing multiplexer and audio encoders as well as education, training and support with the overall goal to make this DAB trial a success.”

Estonia DAB+ tests go live

28.11.2022 - Estonia

Levira, together with the AEB (Estonian Broadcasting Union) and radio stations, is testing solutions and possibilities for digital radio broadcasting in Estonia. As a pilot project, digital radio transmitters will be launched in the Tallinn TV tower and by the end of the year in Koeru and Pehka broadcasting stations. As of 28 November 2022, the following radio stations are on air from the Tallinn TV Tower transmitter: Radio Kuku, Radio Elmar, Radio Duo, MyHits, Narodnoye, DFM, StarFM Estonia.

(Levira) Read more

Estonia steps closer to digital radio

28.11.2022 - Estonia

Estonia’s consumer protection and technical regulatory authority, the TTJA, has announced a standard set of principles for testing digital radio, allowing market players to test the new technology until the end of 2023. “One of our objectives for the coming year is to create the necessary technical conditions for the development of digital radio,” said Oliver Gailan, head of the communications department. “To enable today’s market players to test the new technology, as a first step, we have drawn up common principles for testing digital radio and are preparing suitable frequencies for testing in the 174-230 MHz band."

(RedTech) Read more

Estonia: Radio stations start testing digital radio frequencies

24.11.2022 - Estonia

Digital radio, or DAB, which has been in use alongside FM frequencies in other European countries for years, may also reach the Estonian market in a few years, if the trials that will begin in the near future prove successful. Levira will start preparing for the trial in December and the trial period is planned to last nine months to allow for all weather conditions. One of the special features of digital radio is that several programmes can be broadcast on a single transmitter instead of the current one. That's why Levira wants to test the capabilities of digital radio with one transmitter, or 12 stations, said Kristo Kaasan, the company's technology and IT director.

(ERR / Estonian Public Broadcasting) Read more