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Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Arcom White Paper on Radio

The result of more than 30 hearings and consultations with the main players in radio, Arcom has published its White Paper on the future of radio in France, which provides a broad overview of the sector and its economic, legal and technical aspects, as well as changes in usage.

The White Paper on Radio was presented by Roch-Olivier Maistre, President of Arcom and by Hervé Godechot, Arcom member and chairman of the Radio and Digital Audio working group, at the Assises de la radio 2024 conference on Tuesday 18 June at the Arcom headquarters in Paris.

Arcom is proposing a two-phase trajectory, aiming to achieve predominantly digital broadcasting by the end of 2033 and requiring the mobilisation of the entire ecosystem:

• Phase 1: Preparation (2024-2027): Establishing a balanced radio ecosystem within a legislative and technological environment that facilitates continued digitisation under optimal conditions.

• Phase 2: Migration (2028-2033): Completing a market-initiated transition to a digital broadcasting model, six years after the preparation phase and nine years after the publication of the White Paper in 2024.

The transition will require regulation, metrics, planning, marketing and then resources.

Read more on the Arcom website.

Download the English-language summary.

 

DAB+ : a structural choice for the radio industry

Launched in 2014 in Paris, Nice and Marseille, DAB+ is now seen as critical to contribute to the future of radio and to address the saturation of FM. It is a means to preserve diversity and plurality. As DAB+ is reaching a turning point, the regulator, Arcom, is launching in 2023 a consultation with the radio industry which will include the switchover from FM to DAB+ both in the metropolitan area and overseas. The economics of radio are a key element of the expected white paper, as well as the potential acceleration of the deployment.

Deployment of DAB+

On 12 October 2021, France launched two new national multiplexes broadcasting 26 DAB+ stations, including national services from Radio France, leading private broadcasters and four new national services. The new multiplexes are broadcast along the major motorway corridors of Paris-Lyon-Marseille. The 26 services include four new DAB+ only stations and 22 stations that are also broadcast in FM. Extension to more main roads and highly populated areas is planned for the end of 2023. These 26 radios are in addition to the hundreds of radio stations already available regionally and locally on DAB+

The CSA rollout plan, the so-called "nodes and arcs strategy" described in 2017, which also includes continued regional and local rollouts alongside the launch of national services, was updated in 2021. 

Arcom says that "In total, it is expected that 17 multiplexes, extended or local, will have started broadcasting during the summer of 2023. At the end of these start-ups, the coverage of the metropolitan population by DAB+ will exceed 50%."

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.   

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

Receiver legislation

Older pieces of legislation in France related to DAB+ in cars have been superseded by the transposition in November 2020 of the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, with the transposition of the EECC into French law officially published on 28 May 2021. Domestic receivers, for which the reception function of radio services broadcast is not purely incidental, and have an alphanumeric screen, must be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. Discussions are ongoing to make DAB+ mandatory in all receivers. 

Last update: 06.01.2026 - older versions

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France. At the end of 2025, population coverage has reached 66%, and is planned to reach 80% by the end of 2026

With its arrival in 2023 in towns such as Bayonne, Besançon, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Metz, Nancy and Pau, in summer 2023 DAB+ passed the symbolic milestone of covering 50% of the French population. A trial has also been underway in Martinique since January 2023, and La Réunion since March 2024. 

In December 2021, the French media regulator CSA, published an updated DAB+ roadmap highlighting DAB+ developments plans for the 2022-2024 period.

According to the new roadmap, calls for applications will be launched for 50 local allotments in that period of time – these primarily concerned the cities of Dijon, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes, Caen, Nancy, Paris, Bordeaux, Clermont-Ferrand, Poitiers and Toulouse. 

Last update: 24.09.2025 - older versions

In this country there are

  • National multiplexes: 2 Regular
  • Regional multiplexes: 37 Regular
  • Local multiplexes: 65 Regular
on air.

An up-to-date overview of the DAB+ digital radio services on air in France is available on the Ensemble pour le DAB+ website.

France DAB+ Broadcast Networks

An interactive map showing all services currently on air in France, as well as those licensed to go on air, can be found at: Ma radio DAB Plus - CSA - Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

Simulcast on AM / FM Exclusive on digital Total of services
DAB+ programmes 409 183 592

Last update: 24.09.2025 - older versions

In France, as of H1 2025, 98% of new cars sold are equipped with DAB+ as standard (Source: JATO Dynamics).

French DAB+ Broadcast Networks Factsheet

A new factsheet on DAB+ digital radio in France has been produced for automotive manufacturers, as the country achieves over 50% DAB+ population coverage.

The factsheet from WorldDAB - the global industry forum for DAB digital radio - was produced as part of the work of its Automotive Working Group, in partnership with network operator TDF, and RadioDNS which promotes hybrid radio.   

Last update: 05.02.2021 - older versions

Receiver legislation 

In December 2018 DAB+ coverage reached 21.3% of the French population, which triggered a law requiring that all radio receivers (including in-car) sold in France be compatible with the broadcasting standards (ie DAB+). This 2018 law was amended in June 2020 to align with the EECC deadline of 20 December 2020.

In November 2020, the French parliament voted in favour of a law to transpose the EECC into French legislation. This law passed the last stage and was made official in December 2020, enabling the government to take a final decree which is expected by early 2021. The decree will confirm that new passenger cars in France will be required to include digital terrestrial radio from 20 December 2020, in line with the EECC. Additional obligations regarding consumer receivers have yet to be agreed and may also be included in that decree enacting the EECC.

More detailed information is in the WorldDAB EECC Factsheet. 

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

  • La Réunion: Arcom has authorised two trials of DAB+ radio broadcasting in Saint-Denis from March 1, 2024.
  • La Martinique: trial authorised since January 2023 ; three sites in Martinique and 11 stations: Radio Fusion, Fusion 100 % Infos, Fusion Compas, Fusion Salsa Kl@moson, Fusion Gold, Maknet Jazz, Mixx FM Martinique, Radio Évangile Martinique, Radio Actif Martinique, Identité Radio and Martinique La 1ère.

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

DAB+ regulation in France is outlined on the French Media regulator's website. 

Arcom's annual report

Arcom's White Paper on the future of radio

Last update: 04.07.2024 - older versions

Ensemble pour le DAB+

“Ensemble pour le DAB+” is an association created in 2022 on the instigation of the Bureau de la Radio, Radio France and SIRTI, with the aim of setting up and coordinating communication and marketing actions around the development of DAB+, both nationally and locally. The French Ministry of Culture is a partner of the Association.

The first global campaign took place in January 2024. The objective was to raise awareness of DAB+; the reach was 70% of the French population over 13 years old with a 1000 audio spots played during a week. It was completed by a social media campaign and a billboard campaign in the Paris metro, outdoors in the Ile-de-France region and in Nantes, Strasbourg, Lyon and Lille.

DABplus.fr

The website DABplus.fr was set up to summarise the deployment of DAB+ in France. It is paid by and for stakeholders of DAB+ in France. www.DABplus.fr

New Arcom report underlines the enduring strength of broadcast radio in France
15.04.2026 - Top story - France France
The latest audio-video trends report from Arcom offers a timely snapshot of media consumption in France, confirming that radio remains a central pillar of the audio landscape, reaching 73% of the population. With live listening still dominant via broadcast networks such as FM and DAB+, and nearly a quarter of radio devices now DAB+ compatible, the findings underline the growing role of digital terrestrial radio within a hybrid ecosystem. Jean-Marc Dubreuil, WorldDAB’s Country Manager for France, highlights what this means for the future of radio.

(WorldDAB ) Read more

DAB+ drives digital growth at Melody Radio
14.04.2026 - France France
Insights shared by Groupe Secom Director Laurent Hongne show a clear correlation between DAB+ rollout and rising digital audiences, with each expansion of DAB+ coverage in France driving increased listening across apps and online platforms. Rather than cannibalising digital, DAB+ is shown to act as a powerful engine for visibility, credibility and audience growth. The findings reinforce the role of DAB+ as a catalyst within a hybrid radio ecosystem, strengthening both broadcast and digital engagement.

(LinkedIn) Read more

Arcom report highlights strong foundations for DAB+ growth in France
14.04.2026 - France France
New data confirms that broadcast radio remains the dominant mode of listening, with audiences continuing to rely on free-to-air platforms including DAB+. Radio’s strength in the car and its universal reach underline the importance of ensuring seamless access to broadcast services in connected environments. As audio consumption becomes increasingly hybrid, DAB+ is well positioned to combine the scale and resilience of broadcast with the expectations of digital audiences.

(ARCOM) Read more

France Musique going digital, ceasing FM in several areas
03.04.2026 - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France France
Radio France listeners will have to adjust to some changes by the end of the summer: France Musique will only be broadcast digitally in certain areas, as part of a gradual shift away from traditional radio. “We will be telling listeners: get yourselves DAB+ receivers from tomorrow,” explains the public broadcaster’s chair, Sibyle Veil. The aim is both to “modernise the distribution” of radio and to achieve savings, against a backdrop of severe budgetary constraints, Sibyle Veil had told journalists beforehand. Around 300 FM transmitters, representing 12% of Radio France’s network, will be returned to the audiovisual regulator, Arcom, yielding annual savings of €3.9 million. The authority will be able to reallocate them.

(Le Figaro) Read more

DAB+ digital terrestrial radio is coming to Cherbourg
03.04.2026 - France France
Digital terrestrial radio continues to roll out across France with the launch today in Cherbourg of 25 national radio stations available on DAB+. These initial launches in Cherbourg will be followed by the launch of 26 additional local, regional and themed radio stations by the end of the year, providing the public with a comprehensive, pluralistic and diverse range of services. Ultimately, the digital radio offering in Cherbourg and more broadly across the Cotentin region will therefore comprise 52 stations—local, regional and national, public and private—some of which will be new to listeners, thereby doubling the current FM offering in the area. More than 70% of the population now has access to DAB+.

(Arcom) Read more

DAB+ arrives on the Cotentin radio scene
03.04.2026 - towerCast WorldDAB Member - Radio France WorldDAB Member - France France
Since 2 April 2026, residents in the north of the Manche department have been able to access a new way of listening to the radio: DAB+. Initially, 25 radio stations are available. “Cherbourg-en-Cotentin was the last town in France with over 50,000 inhabitants that did not yet have DAB+,” points out Raphaël Eyraud, president of TowerCast, which manages around ten transmitters in the department. A launch ceremony took place at the foot of the 116-metre-high transmitter in Digosville, near Cherbourg. "DAB+ is a real boon, a modernisation of radio. Radio is an everyday medium, and it needs this digital upgrade. The aim now is to convince listeners to switch from FM to DAB+,” says Charles-Emmanuel Bon, chairman of the “Ensemble pour le DAB+” association.

(Francebleu.fr) Read more

TDF speeds up DAB+ rollout: nearly 50 transmitters switched on
01.04.2026 - TDF WorldDAB Member - France France
On 31 March, TDF is bringing nearly fifty DAB+ transmitters into service to ensure the digital broadcast of national radio stations (the M1 and M2 multiplexes). This new phase of large-scale roll-out enhances coverage along major motorways and in many neighbouring urban areas, with a particularly marked increase in coverage in the South-West. Nearly 30 transmitters have now been activated in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie. Further roll-outs are also taking place in Grand-Est, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire and Hauts-de-France. This new phase of deployment relies in particular on several of TDF’s flagship sites. These are all landmark sites that embody the reliability and national sovereignty of the TDF network.

(TDF) Read more

Jean-Baptiste Tuzet on why Crooner Radio reflects a new radio economy
27.03.2026 - France France
For more than a decade, Jean-Baptiste Tuzet has been building Crooner Radio as a deliberately alternative radio project, combining musical elegance, technological innovation and editorial independence. Launched in France, Crooner Radio is a niche, premium music broadcaster built around jazz, swing and crooner-style repertoire, distributed via DAB+, online streaming and visual-enhanced digital channels. After more than 10 years of advocating for DAB+, Tuzet says the technology has finally become a credible driver of modernization and reach. With the majority of new cars in Europe now equipped with DAB+ receivers, he argues that the platform allows Crooner Radio to reach a mobile, high-value audience.

(RedTech International) Read more

Why is RCF radio stopping its FM broadcasts in the Belfort region?
26.03.2026 - France France
No need to panic for RCF listeners in the Belfort region – the station isn’t going anywhere. RCF Besançon-Montbéliard-Belfort will continue to broadcast its programmes. However, for financial reasons, broadcasting on 88.4 FM will cease when the contract with the operator TowerCast expires on 31 May 2026. The transmitter located at Les Glacis will no longer broadcast the station’s programmes, which are now focused on digital terrestrial broadcasting, commonly known as DAB+. The station has decided to divest itself of its Belfort transmitter, which is more expensive than the others. Annually, for the regional broadcaster, “it comes to just over €10,000. That’s a significant amount for us,” explains Pierre Arnaud, president of RCF Besançon.

(L'Est Républicain) Read more

In ‘Tech-i’, Jacqueline Bierhorst looks back on a year of growth for DAB+
16.03.2026 - France France
In the latest issue of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) Tech-i magazine, Jacqueline Bierhorst, Chair of WorldDAB, discusses recent developments in digital radio. From roll-outs across Europe and trials in new markets to regulatory challenges in the automotive sector, the article provides an overview of the global development of DAB+. According to Jacqueline Bierhorst, 2025 was a year of progress for DAB+ digital radio in several countries. In Europe, Estonia launched digital radio in September and Luxembourg put 11 DAB+ stations on air in December. In Turkey, DAB+ services are now being broadcast from the Çamlıca tower, and 30 additional towers have been announced to extend coverage. In Greece, the public broadcaster ERT is gradually rolling out DAB+ from Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras.

(La Lettre Pro de la Radio) Read more

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    Read more

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    Comparing DAB+ experiences – Ensemble pour le DAB+ & MaRadio.be

    04.02.2026

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    14.01.2025

    Le 28 janvier, le Paris Radio Show, le seul événement professionnel en France dédié à l'industrie de la radio, ouvrira ses portes. Le WorldDAB propose d’échanger sur les tendances qui façonnent l’avenir de la radiodiffusion numérique mais aussi de partager les meilleures pratiques dans le déploiement du DAB+.

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    13.01.2025

    On 28 January, the Paris Radio Show, France's only trade event dedicated to the radio industry, will open its doors. The Show covers major issues for the future development of radio, including the deployment of DAB+. WorldDAB will discuss the trends shaping the future of digital broadcasting, and to share best practices.

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Key Information

Status: regular
Population: 65.2 million
Population coverage: Sparkline Graph 66%
Services: 592 DAB+
New cars with DAB/DAB+ as standard: Sparkline Graph 98%
Total Sales (cumulative): 14,500,000 devices
Penetration by household: Sparkline Graph 28%
Last update: 08.01.2026

Useful Links

DAB+ services on air in France
Annuaire des radios Françaises en AM, FM et RNT
Regulator - ARCOM
Call for application for 2 multiplexes covering main roads
DAB+ in France - interactive map
DAB+ regulation in France
DABplus.fr
Ensemble pour le DAB+